MSC Halts Novorossiysk Bookings After Drone Strike on 2,700-TEU Ship

World’s largest carrier suspends Black Sea port calls following attack on Panama-flagged MSC Ulsan III

Weihong Nguyen 1 Sep 2026 ·07:46

3 min read BLACK SEA

MSC Ulsan III, the 2,700-TEU vessel struck by a drone near Novorossiysk on 25 August.

THE ESSENTIALS

MSC has suspended all new bookings to and from Novorossiysk after a drone struck its 2,700-TEU container ship MSC Ulsan III.
The vessel was hit on 25 August while sailing from Novorossiysk to Tekirdağ, Türkiye, with no reported injuries.
Ukraine has attacked five grain carriers at Novorossiysk and Tuapse in recent weeks, escalating Black Sea tensions.
MSC continues limited services through other Russian ports, including St. Petersburg, carrying essential goods like food and medicine.

The world’s largest shipping line, MSC, has suspended all new cargo bookings to and from Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk after a drone struck its 2,700-TEU container ship MSC Ulsan III on 25 August. The suspension, confirmed by an employee at MSC’s St. The company said it is monitoring the security situation and will resume its weekly service to Novorossiysk only when it is deemed safe. Customers have been directed to MSC’s Russian office for alternative import and export options, though the carrier continues to operate through other Russian…

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