Shipping Disrupted After Massive Earthquake
December 26: Following the massive undersea earthquake (9.0) off the north-western coast of Sumatra, tsunamis have caused havoc and huge lose of live on many coasts (aprox 22,000 deaths reported). "This may be the worst national disaster in recent history because it is affecting so many heavily populated coastal areas" according to U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator.

In shipping, coastal facilities have been adversely affected in thousands of ports:

Following reports of damage and destruction in parts of Phuket, Thailand, Star Cruises has temporarily amended the itineraries of SUPERSTAR VIRGO and SUPERSTAR GEMINI. Both ships were in Singapore when the waves were striking the north-western coast of the Malay peninsula and Thailand. Star Cruises have cancelled calls at Phucket on the current cruises which departed from Singapore and Port Klang, Malaysia on December 26th. Star Cruises will continue to monitor the situation.

At Chennai, India the port was reported closed due to damage. Three ships were in collision; ABG KESHAV, CANADUIAN EXPRESS and GEM OF TUTICORN. The ships broke their moorings after two tidal waves, one at 9.00 a.m. and another at 11.00 a.m., hit the area. The ships collided and one of them hit the West Quay berth at Ambedkar docks and damaged a quay crane. Authorities encouraged other vessels move to the open seas.

MV AKBAR, a passenger ship, was damaged at Port Blair, while no passengers were on board. Port installations at Tuticorin Port have also been damaged, while a ship loaded with coal lost its moorings. On the other side of the country, in the state of Kerala, the passenger ship MV BHARAT SEEMA, with 360 aboard, had set out from Kochi to Lakshadweep for the 15-20 hour trip before the warning of the tsunamis in the Arabian Sea were received. All inter-island ferry services have since been suspended.