Burst! A large number of merchant ships "evacuated" Syrian ports
On December 8, several explosions and gunfire were heard in the Syrian capital Damascus. Later in the day, Syrian opposition forces said they had taken control of the capital Damascus and "overthrew the Assad regime."
On the same day, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had given up the presidency and instructed the Syrian government to peacefully transfer power after negotiations with representatives of all parties to the Syrian conflict, and Russia was not involved in the negotiations.
The Syrian National Army says the regime of President Bashar al-Assad is over.
AIS ship-tracking website VesselFinder said no commercial vessels are currently docked at any port in Syria, while another ship-tracking service, MarineTraffic, also said: "According to AIS data, there are currently no commercial vessels docked in Syria."
Analysts at TankerTrackers.com pointed out that the Iranian Suez tanker Lotus recently turned around in the Gulf of Suis. The ship was due to deliver 750,000 barrels of Iranian crude to Syria, but is now returning to Iran, TankerTrackers.com warned, adding that Syria is now at risk of a fuel shortage.
So far this year, Russia has been the largest source of seaborne goods to Syria, followed by Iran, Turkey and Egypt, according to Oceanbolt.
Latakia, Banias and Tartous, Syria's three largest ports, were quickly evacuated by the Russian navy over the weekend from the port of Tartous, which for decades had been its only maintenance and resupply point in the Mediterranean.
Syria used to be one of the important shipping hubs in the Middle East, and the withdrawal of global merchant ships has also had a certain impact on the international shipping industry. Some shipping companies need to re-plan routes and find alternative ports, increasing operating costs and uncertainties. At the same time, the instability of the situation in Syria may also trigger new regional conflicts and geopolitical competition.
In addition, on the 8th, all flights at the international airport in Damascus, the Syrian capital, have been suspended and staff have been evacuated.
On the same day, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had given up the presidency and instructed the Syrian government to peacefully transfer power after negotiations with representatives of all parties to the Syrian conflict, and Russia was not involved in the negotiations.
The Syrian National Army says the regime of President Bashar al-Assad is over.
AIS ship-tracking website VesselFinder said no commercial vessels are currently docked at any port in Syria, while another ship-tracking service, MarineTraffic, also said: "According to AIS data, there are currently no commercial vessels docked in Syria."
Analysts at TankerTrackers.com pointed out that the Iranian Suez tanker Lotus recently turned around in the Gulf of Suis. The ship was due to deliver 750,000 barrels of Iranian crude to Syria, but is now returning to Iran, TankerTrackers.com warned, adding that Syria is now at risk of a fuel shortage.
So far this year, Russia has been the largest source of seaborne goods to Syria, followed by Iran, Turkey and Egypt, according to Oceanbolt.
Latakia, Banias and Tartous, Syria's three largest ports, were quickly evacuated by the Russian navy over the weekend from the port of Tartous, which for decades had been its only maintenance and resupply point in the Mediterranean.
Syria used to be one of the important shipping hubs in the Middle East, and the withdrawal of global merchant ships has also had a certain impact on the international shipping industry. Some shipping companies need to re-plan routes and find alternative ports, increasing operating costs and uncertainties. At the same time, the instability of the situation in Syria may also trigger new regional conflicts and geopolitical competition.
In addition, on the 8th, all flights at the international airport in Damascus, the Syrian capital, have been suspended and staff have been evacuated.
