Shipping giant Maersk Line has released a further update on its services in Japan, where operations continue to be impacted by the after effects of the devastating earthquake that hit the country in March – most notably by the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant.
The group explained that it was still committed to servicing Japan, and that it would continue to call at Japanese ports 'as long as it is considered safe for the crew'.
'All our offices in Japan including Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka and Kobe are open and fully staffed,' the group said in a statement. 'Services to and from Sendai, Hachinohe and Onahama continue to be suspended and there is no acceptance of cargo in these ports. There are no other restrictions in booking transportation to or from Japan imposed by Maersk Line.'
In order to protect crew and vessels, Maersk Line revealed that a safety navigation zone had been established, with no ships getting within 140 nautical miles of the Fukushima plant.
In addition, the group said that no radiation level measurement at the ports called at had been exceeded, or even been close to, safety limits set by the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and there were no plans to cease calling at Japanese ports in operation.
