Earthquake March 2025: 

Following the Richter scale 7.7 earthquake in Myanmar, we bring  you a general update from our office in Myanmar:

Only small aftershocks occurred (over 100+) throughout the country, after the major ones.

Blackout continues nationwide. Yangon main areas are able to get a cycle of maximum 4 hours of power followed by 24 hours outage. 

No water supply in city system. Those with private well are able to get by with generator and solar power. Main roads and bridges connecting to cities suffered major damages. Not totally unusable but need to detour offroad in many areas. With dry season, the transport is manageable but if rain falls (which monsoon will enter soon) things will be quite complicated. There are news of many large dams damaged and integrity compromised.

Operations at all ports are continuing. However, export cargo which requires inland road transport will be largely affected. 

Situation – September 2024:

Situation remains difficult. A number of government department changes further complicate matters.

There are also changes on bank interests and also on import license of medical products and therefore, we foresee this may largely affect import/export of cargo.

Other than that, port operation is still running as normal and rice and corn exports are also still ongoing.

Aung Myo Myat Naing joined Spica 4 years ago, after 3 years at sea with Hyundai Merchant Marine, sailing on board cape size bulk carriers as a 2nd officer. Since joining Spica Services, he has been handling claims involving cargo/container claims, cargo quantity/quality disputes for tankers, collision, sinking, grounding, fire, oil pollution, recovery claims, etc. As a Myanmar national, Aung also has responsibility as Country Manager for Spica Services’ Myanmar Branch Office.

Kyi Thanda Oo has more than 18 years of experience in shipping industry and has vast knowledge in port operation, ship/liner operator, ship agency and cargo operation (GC, container, oil and gas), etc. She is well connected locally and has very good understanding on local authorities’ requirements and changes in local shipping industry.

Sainn Sainn has 15 years of experience with shipping lines and freight forwarders. She is knowledgeable and very familiar with local ship operation, import/export cargo and documentation, local requirements and procedure.

Dughall Aitken is the Company Chief Executive and handles major casualty work for the Company in Singapore and supervises the handling of all major claims regionally. Before joining Spica, Dughall worked for A.P. Moller, completing assignments in Maersk’s Ro-Ro, Offshore and Deep Water fleets.