Two of the biggest container lines in the world, the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Maersk, have announced the temporary suspension of shipping activities to and from Russia after the country was subject to international sanctions and other isolating measures. The MSC suspension came into effect on March 1 and will cover all access areas including Far East Russia, the Black Sea, and the Baltics. “MSC will continue to accept and screen bookings for delivery of essential goods such as food, medical equipment, and humanitarian goods,” the firm said in a March 1 service update. “MSC will contact customers directly, as necessary, in respect of any Russia-related cargo that is already in transit.” Headquartered in Switzerland, MSC is currently the biggest shipping company by capacity in the world. Denmark’s Maersk, which was the world’s largest container shipping line and vessel operator until last year, said that it is “deeply concerned” …