The impact of the earthquake in Japan
on Hamburg Süd’s services

Hamburg, 16 March 2011

In response to the recent tragic developments in Japan, Hamburg Süd has set up a crisis team which has been meeting regularly since the earthquake to confer on current developments off the east coast of the Asian continent and institute appropriate measures.

“In all the decisions to be taken, the overriding factor for us is to ensure the well-being of our mariners and, at the same time, ensure that Japan is not cut off from the international flow of merchandise,” stated Joachim A Konrad, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of Hamburg Süd. “In pursuit of this goal we intend to treat owned and chartered vessels equally.”

As a first measure the shipping group has decided not to call at the ports of Tokyo and Yokohama with its services. In parallel, consideration will be given on a case-by-case basis to whether the ports of Nagoya and Kobe represent possible alternatives and a meaningful option in transport terms. Additionally, all ships in this trade have been instructed to operate south of the 29th parallel for as long as possible, in order to give any possible risk from radioactive fallout a wide berth. The crisis team is not ruling out the possibility of taking further action.

According to the latest information, Hamburg Süd offices, and the terminals called at by the shipping group, remain operational.

Source: Hamburg Süd