Immediately after the devastating results of the earthquake in Japan, Hamburg Süd set up a working group consisting of experts from various departments which is constantly monitoring the situation on the east coast of the Asian continent and can quickly and efficiently respond to any new developments. This working group today decided also to have the next vessel, the “Cap Isabel”, which operates in the Asia – Mexico/South America West Coast Service (ASPA), call at Japan on 1 April 2011. A careful watch will, of course, be kept on weather conditions and the situation in Fukushima.

In taking this step, the shipping group is consistently following the course set in the past days. Most recently, on 24 March, the “Cap Manuel”, which is likewise deployed in the ASPA, and the “Cap Manuel”, which operates in the Asia – Australia/New Zealand Service (ANZL), called at the ports of Yokohama and Tokyo respectively.

“In all the decisions to be taken, the overriding factor for us is to safeguard the well-being of our seagoing staff 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.”

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