Kuehne+Nagel aims to provide the most up-to-date operational information so you can make more informed decisions for your cargo. Our weekly Port Update summarises events impacting global port operations this past week and what should be considered when planning future shipments. Additionally, we include infrastructure and volume developments, amongst other relevant general port news.
Operational News
Asia
Japan
Nagoya: A system failure at Nagoya Port brought container terminal operations to a halt on 4 July. Upon investigation, the authorities found the cause of the failure was an infection by ransomware. An announcement made by the authorities confirmed that work is currently underway to fix the failure today, and the port is expected to be operational on 6 July.
Europe
France
France continues to witness nationwide riots, including acts of violence and fires. According to media reports, the situation in Marseille and Lyon is particularly chaotic. However, Kuehne+Nagel sources reported that operations at container terminals are largely unaffected. The 7-day average waiting time for vessels is 1.3 days at Le Havre Port and 1 day at Fos Sur Mer Port.
Sweden
Gothenburg – Helsingborg - Halland: The Swedish Port Workers Union (HF) decided to withdraw its plans to strike after an agreement was proposed by employers. The union noted that the next step would be putting the agreement to the vote by union members. The 7-day average waiting time for vessels at Sweden’s main port, Gothenburg, is 12 days.
North America
Canada
Vancouver and Prince Rupert: Dockworkers at Canada’s west coast ports went on strike on 1 July after negotiations failed to reach a resolution. Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse when the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) announced on 3 July that bargaining efforts "is not going to produce a collective agreement." According to seaexplorer data, the 7-day average waiting time for vessels is 2.4 days at the Port of Vancouver, while container dwell times reached 8 days. Government representatives urged the parties to return to the negotiation table as dockworkers continued to strike.
Other Port News
Africa
South Africa
Durban: Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) announced last week that it extended the landside capacity of its empty containers yard by more than four times. South Africa Freight News reported that the extension intends to reduce vessel stays at the port. The port authority further managed to reduce stack occupancy from 75% to 55% “thanks to the new free import storage rule that notifies a customer immediately when their container is offloaded."
Asia
China
Container and cargo throughput at Chinese ports achieved positive growth this year so far. Container volumes reached 122 million TEU in the first five months of this year, registering an increase of nearly 5% compared to last year. The top two ports in terms of containers handled were Shanghai Port and Ningbo Zhoushan Port.
During the past week, the 7-day average vessel waiting times increased slightly in Shanghai and Ningbo. On 24 June, the 7-day average vessel waiting time was 2.58 days. It increased to reach 3.2 days on 5 July.
Europe
Belgium
Antwerp-Bruges: Port of Antwerp-Bruges launched an extensive digital radar and camera network that scans the entire port area to ensure safe and efficient shipping traffic, announced the port in a press release. The system consists of 460 cameras and 22 radars that are directly connected to the Antwerp Coordination Centre. The system will “provide operational services such as Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) and the Harbour Master's Office with a comprehensive view of the port.”
Denmark
Copenhagen: Eight hybrid straddle carriers and two ship-to-shore (STS) cranes will be added to a new container terminal in Copenhagen Port. The cranes will have a lifting capacity of “65 tonnes to load and unload container ships 14 container rows across,” reports Container News.
Netherlands
Rotterdam: Container terminal Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG) announced its plans to expand its terminal in the Prinses Amaliahaven on the Maasvlakte in the port of Rotterdam. According to the port authority, the expansion will gradually increase the facility’s capacity by 1.8 million TEU. The first phase of the expansion is expected to be operational by the end of 2025, said the port.
Spain
Valencia: To achieve its 2030 decarbonisation targets, the Port of Valencia plans to start using hydrogen as a green energy source for its operations. There are three projects that will help the port in this transition, including testing the use of hydrogen in a tractor unit and creating “hydrogen valleys.”
North America
United States
The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) granted US ports nearly $40 million for decarbonisation projects and the development of rail and trucking facilities. Port Miami, Puerto Rico Ports Authority, and other smaller ports in the country will be among the ports benefiting from the federal funding.
Houston: Houston Port witnessed weak container volumes for the third month in a row in May, according to local news. The port handled around 300,000 TEU, which represents a 10% decrease compared to May of last year. Imports declined 12% year-on-year to 139,745 TEU, while exports declined 3% year-on-year to 109,220 TEU.
Los Angeles: A new green shipping corridor will be established between Los Angeles Port and the Port of Nagoya in Japan. The port authorities have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to broaden their cooperation on sustainability and operational efficiency as well as collaborate on digital supply chain information sharing, and zero-emissions vehicle and equipment testing.
South America
Colombia
Buenaventura: Dredging operations at the access channel to the port of Buenaventura are set to begin this year. The channel will have an outer bay of 13.5 meters (at low tide) and an inner bay of 12.5 meters (at low tide), reports Mundo Maritimo. The cost of this project is estimated at $22 million and will take nearly four months to complete.
