Another Cargo Ship Struck at Black Sea 又一起！ 货船在黑海遇袭

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 The geopolitical landscape in the Black Sea region has become increasingly strained in recent years. Conflicts, military drills, and inter-state tensions have significantly jeopardized shipping safety.  

近年来黑海地区的地缘政治局势日益紧张。由于冲突、军事演习以及国家间紧张关系，航运安全受到了严重威胁。

On September 20, a cargo ship flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, scheduled to transport metal pipes to Romania, was struck by a ballistic missile in the port of Odessa, resulting in injuries to two crew members and damage to the port's infrastructure.  

9月20日，一艘悬挂安提瓜和巴布达国旗的杂货船在敖德萨港被一弹道导弹击中。据悉，事发时，船只计划向罗马尼亚运输金属管，此次袭击导致船上两名船员受伤，不仅如此，导弹还破坏了敖德萨港的基础设施。

Odessa Port stands as Ukraine's largest port and one of the most significant ports along the Black Sea coast, holding immense economic significance. Recently, it has been pivotal in the global food supply chain, particularly given Ukraine's reputation as the "breadbasket of Europe," making its stable operation essential for maintaining food security in international markets.  

敖德萨港，作为乌克兰最大的港口和黑海沿岸最大的港口之一，经济地位举足轻重。近年来，敖德萨港在全球粮食供应链中扮演着重要角色，尤其是乌克兰作为“欧洲粮仓”的背景下，该港口的稳定运营对于维持国际市场的粮食安全至关重要。

Ongoing Trade Crisis in Black Sea since the Outbreak of Russia-Ukraine Conflict in 2022  

自2022年俄乌冲突爆发后，黑海贸易危机持续至今

The Black Sea, the largest inland sea in the world, connects to the Mediterranean via the Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits to the west, and to the Sea of Azov via the Kerch Strait to the north. It stretches towards four major regions: Eastern (Southern) Europe, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and Central Asia in Russia, holding significant geopolitical value. With the ongoing Ukraine crisis, energy corridors passing through Ukraine have been obstructed. Following the sabotage of the "Nord Stream" pipeline, Russia's two gas pipelines, "Blue Stream" and "TurkStream," running under the Black Sea to Turkey, boasts a combined annual gas transport capacity exceeding 30 billion cubic meters. Despite representing one-sixth of Russia's peak gas exports to Europe, which reached 180 billion cubic meters, it remains a significant channel for European energy.  

黑海是世界上最大的内陆海，向西经过博斯普鲁斯海峡和达达尼尔海峡与地中海相通，向北经刻赤海峡与亚速海相连，辐射东（南）欧、高加索、中东和俄罗斯中亚四大板块，具有重要的地缘战略价值。随着乌克兰危机的持续，以乌克兰为中转站的能源通道受到阻碍。在“北溪”管道遭到破坏后，俄罗斯经黑海底部至土耳其的“蓝溪”和“土耳其溪”两条天然气管道合计年输气能力超过300亿立方米，虽然仅为俄罗斯对欧天然气出口高峰期1800亿立方米的约1/6，但依然是保障欧洲能源需求的通道之一。

Notably, the Black Sea has played an increasingly crucial role as a regional trade transshipment hub amid the crisis. Statistics show that in 2023, cargo throughput at the Port of Novorossiysk in Russia reached 154 million tons, making it a crucial export base for oil, minerals, grains, and fertilizers. Port of Samsun in Turkey witnessed its throughput amounting to 10 million tons, while Georgia's Poti Port saw a 66% increase in container throughput compared to 2022. Before the suspension of the "Black Sea Grain Initiative," Ukraine exported nearly 18 million tons of grain and food products through its Black Sea ports, and Port of Constanța in Romania, a transshipment point for Ukrainian containers, experienced a 32% increase in throughput from 2022 to 2024. Thus, the Black Sea remains a critical hub for global and regional trade in energy and food products.  

值得注意的是，黑海在危机背景下作为区域贸易转运站的作用不降反升。根据统计，2023年俄罗斯的新罗西斯克港货物吞吐量达到1.54亿吨，成为石油、矿物、谷物和化肥贸易的重要出口基地。土耳其的萨姆松港吞吐量接近1000万吨，格鲁吉亚的波季港集装箱吞吐量较2022年增长66%。在“黑海粮食协议”中止前，乌克兰通过黑海港口运输了近1800万吨粮食和食品，罗马尼亚的康斯坦察港作为乌克兰集装箱的转运港，吞吐量在2022年至2024年间也激增32%。可见，黑海依旧是全球和地区能源、粮食等大宗商品贸易的重要枢纽。

Given the Black Sea's crucial position, the crisis has persisted since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. On September 11, an attack occurred in the Black Sea involving a Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged bulk carrier, which was hit by a missile shortly after departing from the port of Chornomorsk in Ukraine while carrying 26,550 tons of grain. The missile strike inflicted severe damage on the ship's bow, deck, port side, cargo hold, and crane, but thankfully, none of the 23 crew members were harmed.  

正是由于黑海的重要位置，也导致俄乌冲突后，黑海危机一直持续至今。今年9月11日，黑海海域也发生过一起袭击，一艘悬挂圣基茨和尼维斯国旗的运粮散货船在离开乌克兰切尔诺莫斯克港后，遭遇导弹袭击。事发时，船上载有26550吨粮食，此次袭击导致该船船头至甲板处遭受严重损坏，左舷、货舱和起重设备受损。所幸，船上23名船员并未受伤。

On December 28 last year, a Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier struck a mine in the Black Sea while en route to a Danube port for grain loading, leading to stern damage, machinery and equipment failure, loss of navigation course, and a fire on the upper deck, resulting in injuries to two crew members.  

去年12月28日，一艘悬挂巴拿马国旗的散货船在前往多瑙河港口装载粮食时，在黑海触雷，水雷击中船尾，造成船上机械故障，船只失去航向，上层甲板起火，船上两名船员受伤。

According to statistics, about 80 ships were stranded in Ukrainian ports around mid-last year. During the same period, 16 ships suffered damage, leading to delays in cargo transport and significant economic losses.  

据统计数据显示，去年年中，约有80艘船只被困在乌克兰的港口。同期，共有16艘船在冲突中遭到不同程度损坏，导致货物运输延误，造成了巨大的经济损失。

 The Implications of Geopolitical Crisis  

 地缘危机对航运业的影响

Similarly, the Red Sea region faces security challenges.  

除了黑海，红海海域同样面临着类似的安全隐患。

Situated between Northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, the Red Sea links to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal to the north and the Gulf of Aden via the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait to the south. It serves as a vital trade route for vessels traveling between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, often known as one of the world’s busiest, most significant, and controversial waterways. Statistics reveal that about 17,000 vessels navigate through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait annually, with trade volume reaching $1 trillion.  

红海位于非洲东北部与阿拉伯半岛之间，北经苏伊士运河连接地中海，南经曼德海峡连通亚丁湾，扼守亚、非、欧的交通要道，是船只往返大西洋和印度洋的必经之路，也被称为世界上最繁忙、最重要、最具争议的水道之一。数据显示，红海南部的曼德海峡每年约有1.7万艘船只通航，年贸易额高达1万亿美元。

In recent years, ships have frequently fallen victim to attacks by Houthi militants, significantly elevating risks for vessels passing through the Red Sea. The declining shipping environment has led to a dramatic rise in insurance costs, delays in transit, and increasing freight costs.

近年来，船只频繁遭受胡塞武装袭击，显著增加了途径红海的船只的风险。航运环境恶化导致保险费用大幅上升，航程延误，货物运输成本不断增加。

The Red Sea crisis will incur hefty costs on firms exporting goods as evidenced by the poor performance of Asian companies reported by Zhitong Finance, while those in cargo transportation will benefit from higher freight rates. Reports indicate that as of mid-July, to mitigate attack risks in the Red Sea, container ships have reduced traffic in the narrow strait by about 70% since December of the previous year, leading to longer transport times and increased freight costs.

据智通财经统计，亚洲企业上半年的业绩显示，红海危机的连锁反应将继续给生产出口商品的企业带来高昂代价，而那些从事货物运输的企业则受益于更高的运费。据机构称，截至7月中旬，为了避免在红海遭到袭击的风险，集装箱船将狭窄航道上的船只交通量从去年12月减少了约70%。这增加了运输时间和运费。

Amid these disruptions, the Panama Canal, another crucial global trade route, is grappling with severe drought and diminished navigation capacity, forcing many ships to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope. Estimates indicate that cargo ships rerouting from Rotterdam to Singapore via the Cape of Good Hope will experience a 40% increase in their journey (about 3,800 nautical miles), with transport and fuel costs exceeding $2 million, thereby raising overall shipping expenses.

红海航运受阻之际，全球贸易另一咽喉要道巴拿马运河正陷于严重枯水、通航能力削减的困境。正因如此，越来越多的船舶只能选择绕行非洲南端的好望角。据估算，从荷兰鹿特丹驶往新加坡的货轮，如果绕行好望角而不走苏伊士运河，航程会增加40%（约3800海里），运输和燃料成本超过200万美元，这一绕行路线无疑增加了航运成本。

In the complex security landscape, the international community needs to implement proactive measures. International shipping organizations should establish well-defined maritime safety standards for critical areas to ensure safe operations. Nations should remain committed to diplomatic efforts through dialogue and cooperation to mitigate conflicts. Additionally, navigation security can be effectively enhanced by maintaining safe shipping lanes and conducting naval patrols in international waters. Shipping companies should develop comprehensive emergency initiatives to strengthen risk management in conflict-prone areas, ensuring the safety of crews and cargo. It is also essential to enhance port security measures to improve readiness against potential threats.

在这种复杂的安全环境下，国际社会需积极采取措施应对。国际航运组织应为热点海域制定更为明确的航运安全标准，以指导船舶在该区域的安全操作。各国可以加强对话与合作，通过外交途径解决争端，降低冲突风险。设立安全航道并在国际水域部署海洋巡逻力量，可以有效保障商船的航行安全。此外，航运企业应制定详细的应急预案，提高在冲突地区的风险管理能力，确保船员和货物的安全。同时，增强港口的防护措施、提高对潜在威胁的应对能力也显得尤为迫切。

Furthermore, smart shipping solutions can assist in navigating these challenges. We can deliver intelligent management solutions for vessels through advanced technologies including artificial intelligence, IoT, and big data. Specifically, we can monitor shipping activities in real-time, evaluate safety risks, and smartly optimize routes and ports, enhancing emergency response effectiveness. For more information, call 400-9208810.

与此同时，智慧航运也可以起到一定的助力作用。E-PORTS借助人工智能、物联网和大数据分析等先进技术，可为船舶经营管理方提供智能化的解决方案。E-PORTS能够实时监控航运动态、评估安全风险，智能规划作业航线和港口, 提高应急响应能力。如需了解更多，可拨打400-9208810进行咨询。