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Earthquake and container fire close Iskenderun port in Turkey

Earthquake and container fire close Iskenderun port in Turkey. The disruption ran from 2023-02-06 (6 February 2023) to 2023-04-10 (week of 10 April 2023), affecting Iskenderun. The measured effect for this event has not been computed yet.

World Freight Monitor permanent record. https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2023/earthquake-fire-iskenderun-port-2023/. Record last updated 2026-10-29.

Key facts

Started
2023-02-06 (6 February 2023)
Ended
2023-04-10 (week of 10 April 2023)
Status
ended
Severity
3 Significant
Scope
port
Chokepoints
None
Lanes
None
Countries
Türkiye
Confidence
medium: The closure and diversion rest on Maersk's own advisories and Reuters reports of the defence ministry and maritime authority. Reopening was staged over several months and carriers give different dates, so the end date marks only the first partial reopening.
First reported
2023-02-06 (6 February 2023)
  • Severity basis: The port closed on 2023-02-06 and carriers were still reporting it closed on 2023-03-31, with partial reopening and first trial calls only in the week of 2023-04-10, a closure of more than seven days.

What happened

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake on 2023-02-06 (6 February 2023) damaged the port of Iskenderun in southern Turkey and set stacked containers on fire. Maersk said the port suffered severe structural damage and all operations stopped, and Turkey's maritime authority told ships to use other ports. The defence ministry said on 2023-02-07 that military aircraft had put the fire out; it flared again and was contained that night. Carriers sent cargo to Mersin, which became congested. Kuehne+Nagel reported that one Limak berth would reopen in early April using mobile cranes, and Maersk made its first trial call during the week of 2023-04-10 (10 April 2023). Maersk kept bookings to the port closed pending further trials.

Measured effect

Container ship port calls, Iskenderun

Not yet computed. The effect engine (wfm-effect-1.2) will compare 2023-02-06 to 2023-04-10 with a 56 day baseline ending 8 days before the start, once the series for this window is loaded.

Container ship port calls, IskenderunContainer ship port calls, Iskenderun, 2022-11-28 (28 November 2022) to 2023-05-22 (22 May 2023): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2022-12-02 to 4 calls per day on 2022-12-01, with a mean of 0.9 calls per day. The latest value, for 2023-05-22, was 1 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2023-02-06 to 2023-04-10.012342022-11-282023-02-242023-05-22
Container ship port calls, Iskenderun, 2022-11-28 (28 November 2022) to 2023-05-22 (22 May 2023): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2022-12-02 to 4 calls per day on 2022-12-01, with a mean of 0.9 calls per day. The latest value, for 2023-05-22, was 1 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2023-02-06 to 2023-04-10.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-10-21 (21 October 2026).

Container ship port calls, Iskenderun (calls per day).
Datecalls per day
2022-11-282
2022-11-291
2022-11-302
2022-12-014
2022-12-020
2022-12-033
2022-12-041
2022-12-050
2022-12-062
2022-12-072
2022-12-082
2022-12-091
2022-12-103
2022-12-113
2022-12-121
2022-12-132
2022-12-142
2022-12-152
2022-12-162
2022-12-171
2022-12-180
2022-12-191
2022-12-201
2022-12-213
2022-12-221
2022-12-231
2022-12-242
2022-12-251
2022-12-260
2022-12-270
2022-12-282
2022-12-290
2022-12-303
2022-12-313
2023-01-012
2023-01-022
2023-01-031
2023-01-040
2023-01-052
2023-01-061
2023-01-071
2023-01-081
2023-01-093
2023-01-101
2023-01-113
2023-01-123
2023-01-133
2023-01-143
2023-01-151
2023-01-162
2023-01-171
2023-01-183
2023-01-191
2023-01-203
2023-01-212
2023-01-221
2023-01-231
2023-01-240
2023-01-251
2023-01-263
2023-01-272
2023-01-281
2023-01-292
2023-01-302
2023-01-311
2023-02-011
2023-02-021
2023-02-031
2023-02-042
2023-02-050
2023-02-060
2023-02-070
2023-02-080
2023-02-090
2023-02-100
2023-02-110
2023-02-120
2023-02-130
2023-02-140
2023-02-150
2023-02-160
2023-02-170
2023-02-180
2023-02-190
2023-02-200
2023-02-210
2023-02-220
2023-02-230
2023-02-240
2023-02-250
2023-02-260
2023-02-270
2023-02-280
2023-03-010
2023-03-020
2023-03-030
2023-03-040
2023-03-050
2023-03-060
2023-03-070
2023-03-080
2023-03-090
2023-03-100
2023-03-110
2023-03-120
2023-03-130
2023-03-140
2023-03-150
2023-03-160
2023-03-170
2023-03-180
2023-03-190
2023-03-200
2023-03-210
2023-03-220
2023-03-230
2023-03-240
2023-03-250
2023-03-260
2023-03-270
2023-03-280
2023-03-290
2023-03-300
2023-03-310
2023-04-010
2023-04-020
2023-04-031
2023-04-040
2023-04-050
2023-04-060
2023-04-071
2023-04-080
2023-04-090
2023-04-101
2023-04-110
2023-04-122
2023-04-130
2023-04-140
2023-04-152
2023-04-160
2023-04-171
2023-04-181
2023-04-191
2023-04-200
2023-04-211
2023-04-223
2023-04-230
2023-04-240
2023-04-251
2023-04-261
2023-04-271
2023-04-280
2023-04-291
2023-04-302
2023-05-010
2023-05-021
2023-05-031
2023-05-040
2023-05-051
2023-05-062
2023-05-070
2023-05-080
2023-05-092
2023-05-100
2023-05-112
2023-05-120
2023-05-131
2023-05-141
2023-05-151
2023-05-160
2023-05-171
2023-05-181
2023-05-191
2023-05-201
2023-05-211
2023-05-221

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Port calls, Iskenderun

Not yet computed. The effect engine (wfm-effect-1.2) will compare 2023-02-06 to 2023-04-10 with a 56 day baseline ending 8 days before the start, once the series for this window is loaded.

Port calls, IskenderunPort calls, Iskenderun, 2022-11-28 (28 November 2022) to 2023-05-22 (22 May 2023): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2022-12-18 to 7 calls per day on 2022-12-04, with a mean of 1.9 calls per day. The latest value, for 2023-05-22, was 3 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2023-02-06 to 2023-04-10.024682022-11-282023-02-242023-05-22
Port calls, Iskenderun, 2022-11-28 (28 November 2022) to 2023-05-22 (22 May 2023): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2022-12-18 to 7 calls per day on 2022-12-04, with a mean of 1.9 calls per day. The latest value, for 2023-05-22, was 3 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2023-02-06 to 2023-04-10.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-10-21 (21 October 2026).

Port calls, Iskenderun (calls per day).
Datecalls per day
2022-11-284
2022-11-293
2022-11-306
2022-12-016
2022-12-021
2022-12-035
2022-12-047
2022-12-052
2022-12-062
2022-12-073
2022-12-083
2022-12-093
2022-12-107
2022-12-114
2022-12-122
2022-12-134
2022-12-143
2022-12-154
2022-12-163
2022-12-173
2022-12-180
2022-12-193
2022-12-202
2022-12-214
2022-12-221
2022-12-231
2022-12-245
2022-12-254
2022-12-261
2022-12-271
2022-12-283
2022-12-292
2022-12-303
2022-12-315
2023-01-012
2023-01-022
2023-01-031
2023-01-043
2023-01-054
2023-01-061
2023-01-072
2023-01-082
2023-01-095
2023-01-104
2023-01-116
2023-01-123
2023-01-134
2023-01-145
2023-01-153
2023-01-166
2023-01-174
2023-01-183
2023-01-193
2023-01-204
2023-01-215
2023-01-223
2023-01-233
2023-01-243
2023-01-252
2023-01-265
2023-01-272
2023-01-281
2023-01-292
2023-01-303
2023-01-311
2023-02-015
2023-02-022
2023-02-032
2023-02-043
2023-02-051
2023-02-060
2023-02-070
2023-02-080
2023-02-092
2023-02-100
2023-02-110
2023-02-120
2023-02-130
2023-02-141
2023-02-151
2023-02-160
2023-02-170
2023-02-180
2023-02-190
2023-02-202
2023-02-210
2023-02-220
2023-02-230
2023-02-243
2023-02-250
2023-02-260
2023-02-271
2023-02-280
2023-03-010
2023-03-020
2023-03-030
2023-03-043
2023-03-053
2023-03-060
2023-03-070
2023-03-080
2023-03-090
2023-03-101
2023-03-112
2023-03-120
2023-03-132
2023-03-141
2023-03-151
2023-03-161
2023-03-171
2023-03-183
2023-03-191
2023-03-201
2023-03-211
2023-03-220
2023-03-231
2023-03-240
2023-03-250
2023-03-261
2023-03-271
2023-03-281
2023-03-291
2023-03-300
2023-03-312
2023-04-012
2023-04-021
2023-04-032
2023-04-040
2023-04-050
2023-04-060
2023-04-072
2023-04-081
2023-04-090
2023-04-104
2023-04-111
2023-04-123
2023-04-131
2023-04-143
2023-04-153
2023-04-160
2023-04-172
2023-04-183
2023-04-192
2023-04-200
2023-04-211
2023-04-223
2023-04-230
2023-04-241
2023-04-251
2023-04-262
2023-04-271
2023-04-280
2023-04-291
2023-04-303
2023-05-010
2023-05-022
2023-05-032
2023-05-041
2023-05-051
2023-05-063
2023-05-071
2023-05-080
2023-05-095
2023-05-101
2023-05-112
2023-05-122
2023-05-131
2023-05-141
2023-05-151
2023-05-160
2023-05-174
2023-05-181
2023-05-192
2023-05-202
2023-05-213
2023-05-223

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Replay

Replay: Container ship port calls, IskenderunContainer ship port calls, Iskenderun, 2022-12-08 (8 December 2022) to 2023-04-10 (10 April 2023): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2022-12-18 to 3 calls per day on 2022-12-10. The shaded band marks the event window, 2023-02-06 to 2023-04-10.01232022-12-082023-04-10
Container ship port calls, Iskenderun, 2022-12-08 (8 December 2022) to 2023-04-10 (10 April 2023): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2022-12-18 to 3 calls per day on 2022-12-10. The shaded band marks the event window, 2023-02-06 to 2023-04-10.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-10-21 (21 October 2026).

Container ship port calls, Iskenderun (calls per day), daily values shown in the replay.
Datecalls per day
2022-12-082
2022-12-091
2022-12-103
2022-12-113
2022-12-121
2022-12-132
2022-12-142
2022-12-152
2022-12-162
2022-12-171
2022-12-180
2022-12-191
2022-12-201
2022-12-213
2022-12-221
2022-12-231
2022-12-242
2022-12-251
2022-12-260
2022-12-270
2022-12-282
2022-12-290
2022-12-303
2022-12-313
2023-01-012
2023-01-022
2023-01-031
2023-01-040
2023-01-052
2023-01-061
2023-01-071
2023-01-081
2023-01-093
2023-01-101
2023-01-113
2023-01-123
2023-01-133
2023-01-143
2023-01-151
2023-01-162
2023-01-171
2023-01-183
2023-01-191
2023-01-203
2023-01-212
2023-01-221
2023-01-231
2023-01-240
2023-01-251
2023-01-263
2023-01-272
2023-01-281
2023-01-292
2023-01-302
2023-01-311
2023-02-011
2023-02-021
2023-02-031
2023-02-042
2023-02-050
2023-02-060
2023-02-070
2023-02-080
2023-02-090
2023-02-100
2023-02-110
2023-02-120
2023-02-130
2023-02-140
2023-02-150
2023-02-160
2023-02-170
2023-02-180
2023-02-190
2023-02-200
2023-02-210
2023-02-220
2023-02-230
2023-02-240
2023-02-250
2023-02-260
2023-02-270
2023-02-280
2023-03-010
2023-03-020
2023-03-030
2023-03-040
2023-03-050
2023-03-060
2023-03-070
2023-03-080
2023-03-090
2023-03-100
2023-03-110
2023-03-120
2023-03-130
2023-03-140
2023-03-150
2023-03-160
2023-03-170
2023-03-180
2023-03-190
2023-03-200
2023-03-210
2023-03-220
2023-03-230
2023-03-240
2023-03-250
2023-03-260
2023-03-270
2023-03-280
2023-03-290
2023-03-300
2023-03-310
2023-04-010
2023-04-020
2023-04-031
2023-04-040
2023-04-050
2023-04-060
2023-04-071
2023-04-080
2023-04-090
2023-04-101

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Timeline

  1. The earthquake damages the port and a fire starts among containers in the evening. Maersk reports a complete stop of all operations and starts diverting cargo to Mersin and Port Said. [s1]
  2. Turkey's defence ministry says aircraft and helicopters have put out the fire, but it flares again and is contained that night. The maritime authority says the port is closed until further notice and ships should head to other facilities. [s2] [s3] [s6]
  3. Limak says it expects to restart operations fully in about three months and reports no structural damage to the port or its equipment. Local sources tell Lloyd's List that about a third of containers were damaged. [s4]
  4. Maersk says the port remains closed, that Mersin is heavily congested, and that it is not clear when the terminal will be operational again. [s1]
  5. Maersk makes its first trial call, with the Maersk Durban. Kuehne+Nagel reports that one Limak berth is reopening with mobile cranes only and that Cosco expects a call on 2023-04-17. [s5]

Cause

Maersk attributes the closure to severe structural damage from the earthquake of 2023-02-06 and the fire among containers that followed. None of the sources reviewed gives an official account of how the fire started. Attributed by: A.P. Moller - Maersk. [s1] [s2]

Resolution

2023-04-10 (10 April 2023): One Limak berth began operating with mobile cranes in April 2023 and Maersk made trial calls from the week of 2023-04-10. Further berths and larger ships followed over later months, so this date marks the first partial reopening. [s5]

Corrections

No corrections to this record as of 2026-10-29 (29 October 2026).

Sources

  1. [s1] A.P. Moller - Maersk, Operational Impact of Earthquake in Turkey and Syria, published 2023-02-06 (6 February 2023), accessed 2026-10-28. Archived copy. (official)
  2. [s2] gCaptain (Reuters), Fire Extinguished at Turkey's Iskenderun Port, Defense Ministry Says, published 2023-02-07 (7 February 2023), accessed 2026-10-28. Archived copy. (press)
  3. [s3] The Maritime Executive, Fire at Port of Iskenderun Extinguished After Two Days, published 2023-02-08 (8 February 2023), accessed 2026-10-28. Archived copy. (press)
  4. [s4] Kuehne+Nagel (myKN), from Lloyd's List, Turkiye's Iskenderun port to restart in three months, published 2023-02-21 (21 February 2023), accessed 2026-10-28. Archived copy. (press)
  5. [s5] Kuehne+Nagel (myKN), Update - Carriers resume calls at Iskenderun, published 2023-04-14 (14 April 2023), accessed 2026-10-28. Archived copy. (press)
  6. [s6] Kuehne+Nagel (myKN), Update - Fire at the Port of Iskenderun extinguished, published 2023-02-09 (9 February 2023), accessed 2026-10-28. Archived copy. (press)

Cite this record

The address of this record is permanent and a correction is always logged on this page, so a citation names the version you read. Add the date you accessed it.

Plain text

World Freight Monitor. "Earthquake and container fire close Iskenderun port in Turkey." Last updated 2026-10-29 (29 October 2026). https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2023/earthquake-fire-iskenderun-port-2023/

APA

World Freight Monitor. (2026). Earthquake and container fire close Iskenderun port in Turkey. World Freight Monitor. https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2023/earthquake-fire-iskenderun-port-2023/

BibTeX

@misc{wfm_earthquake_fire_iskenderun_port_2023,
  author = {{World Freight Monitor}},
  title = {Earthquake and container fire close Iskenderun port in Turkey},
  year = {2026},
  note = {Last updated 2026-10-29},
  url = {https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2023/earthquake-fire-iskenderun-port-2023/}
}