The increasing violence associated with the uprising in Libya against the regime of leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has led to general cargo and container-handling operations being suspended at most of the country's ports being stopped.

While most liner companies still appear to be accepting cargo bookings, import cargo is being held back, mainly at hub ports, such as Gioia Tauro, Marsaxlokk Taranto, and Port Said, as ships are no longer sailing direct to the country.

That cargo that had been discharged in the country is being held in the terminal as oncarriage is too dangerous.

Moreover, export deliveries to the ports are also suspended, with cargo held at source (factories) or in warehouses.

In the ports themselves ci eXpress understands that staff absences are huge with virtually no stevedores, customs officials or security staff reporting for work. Similarly, many companies, including ship agency offices are closed.

In addition, foreign nationals working in the North African country are largely being recalled by their governments as 'Libya is deemed as a country unsafe to be in'.

In similar fashion to the crisis that occurred in Tunisia and Egypt, ocean carriers and logistics companies involved in the country are monitoring the situation closely and putting into effect programmes aimed at ensuring the safety and security of their staff and assets.

CMA CGM, which offers regular services to/from its Maltese hub and ports such as Tripoli and Misurata, has set up an emergency response team that works 24/7 to help deal with the crisis.

In Libya, CMA CGM uses a third party agent Overseas Shipping Company Libya with offices in Tripoli, Al Khums, Misurata and Benghazi.