The earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on Monday 6 February 2023 caused significant damage to logistics and transport infrastructure in the area. The Port of Iskenderun was the subject of substantial damage as a result of the disaster and subsequent fire, leading to a complete stop of all operations until further notice.
The Port of Iskenderun sustained significant damage from the earthquake and a subsequent fire broke out amongst containers at the terminal in the evening of Monday 6 February.
The Port of Iskenderun remains closed until further notice, with significant damage caused by the disaster and subsequent fire in need of operational repair. We are currently unable to say exactly for how long operations will be stopped at the port, but we will communicate the latest information to customers as soon as possible.
At this time, we are not accepting any new bookings to and from Iskenderun – including contract bookings. Our teams are hard at work developing contingency plans involving nearby hubs and additional transportation, with the aim of minimising the overall impact on customers and their supply chains
We will unfortunately not be able to deliver cargo currently on the water bound for the Port of Iskenderun. We will instead be holding containers in nearby ports and hubs for three weeks from today (Wednesday 8 February) at no extra cost while we plan next steps and final deliveries.
In order to ease pressure on customers affected by the earthquake in Turkey/Syria and subsequent port closure, our teams have developed a series of relief packages. Full terms are outlined below:
Free Change of Destination (COD)
No COD service fee for containers on the water destined for the Port of Iskenderun or Port Mersin, Turkey, or containers gated-in full at the first loading port bound for Iskenderun or Mersin.
COD is subject to the expense of re-stowage and extra shifting cost, plus the ocean freight difference of the new destination unless initiated by the carrier.
Acceptance of COD requests are subject to capacity at the new destination and operational feasibility.
- Booking amendments/cancellations - No amendment / cancellation fees on active bookings to and from Iskenderun or Mersin.
- Demurrage and Detention (D&D) - Interim stop of the Import Combined D&D* and Export Detention* and Demurrage* clock for containers in Iskenderun from February 6th, 2023 until February 20th, 2023, where the D&D responsibility lies with Hamburg Süd.
Interim stop of the Import Combined D&D* and Export Detention* and Demurrage* clock for containers in Iskenderun from February 6th, 2023 until February 20th, 2023, where the D&D responsibility lies with Hamburg Süd.
*Export Demurrage: Free time period and charges for utilisation of equipment inside of terminals or depots (invoiced under Demurrage). Demurrage starts with gate-in full date (included) and ends with load on board date (included). Click here to find out more about export D&D calculation in Turkey.
*Export Detention: Free time period and charges for utilisation of equipment outside of terminals or depots (invoiced under Detention). Detention starts with empty pick-up date (included) and ends with gate-in full date (included). Click here to find out more about export D&D calculation in Turkey.
*Import Combined Demurrage & Detention: Free time period and charges for utilisation of equipment inside and outside of terminals or depots (invoiced under Detention). Click here to find out more about import combined D&D calculation in Turkey.
The Port of Iskenderun remains closed until further notice, with significant damage caused by the disaster and subsequent fire in need of operational repair. We are currently unable to say exactly for how long operations will be stopped at the port, but we will communicate the latest information to customers as soon as possible.
