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.
Operational News
Africa and the Middle East
Kenya
Mombasa: Rail services to/from Mombasa were suspended on 18 November due to flooding. Kenya Railways said the SGR corridor between Mombasa and Mariakani was also closed after a landslide.
The network was restored on 19 November, and trains began moving that day. Loading and discharging of rail cargo at the port also recommenced, advised the operator.
According to Kuehne+Nagel sources, rail, road and port operations disruptions were limited. The railway from Mombasa serves Nairobi and surrounding countries, including Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan.
South Africa
Ports in South Africa have not shown much change compared to last week. Delays to vessels can be up to 20 days in Durban and 14 days in Cape Town.
According to Kuehne+Nagel's seaexplorer, 12 vessels are currently waiting outside Durban, 6 outside Port Elizabeth, and 1 in Cape Town.
Lack of working port equipment, such as cranes and straddle carriers, continued this week, increasing congestion further at the port. Cape Town operations were hampered by bad weather once again.
While recovery plans for the ports have been implemented, this is expected to take weeks to months.
Tanzania
Dar-es-Salam: The 7-day average vessel waiting time has risen significantly to more than 8 days, according to Kuehne+Nagel data. In addition, ships are waiting around 4 days in the port.
Low productivity, a damaged crane, and dredging operations are adding to congestion.
In addition, carriers have been adjusting their schedules and services to Dar-es-Salam according to the congestion level. Some are opting to service the port using feeders from Mombasa. According to seaexplorer, 13 vessels are waiting outside the port.
Asia
Bangladesh
Opposition parties called for strikes on 19 and 20 November in Bangladesh. According to local sources, more strikes are possible in the future, potentially impacting CFS and port operations.
Securing trucks may be challenging during the strikes. This could affect cargo gate-ins before stack closure and result in missed sailings.
Europe
France - Switzerland
High water levels in the River Rhone suspended barge operations last week, according to Maersk. The carrier expects all operations to resume in week 48 (27 November), subject to change.
Germany
The Rhine River also saw high water levels caused by heavy rain last week. Shipping was stopped around Maxau in south Germany last week, reports local media SWR.de.
The authorities warned ship captains of a possible backlog of vessels. Later, however, authorities announced that water levels were expected to drop by the end of the week. While closures were reported in southern Germany, central and northern river sections remained open to shipping, reports Reuters.
Poland
Gdansk: The container yard is still congested, which is causing delays. Carriers are reporting some improvement in the berthing lineup this week.
Waiting time for vessels has reduced; however, the congestion is expected to continue until March or April next year once rubber-tyred gantry cranes are automated.
North America
USA
Savannah: Congestion in the last months due to a berth upgrade is now easing. All berths are fully operational after expansion and upgrades were completed.
Central and Latin America
Brazil
Manaus: Since October, some carriers have stopped their services to Manaus due to low water levels in the Amazon.
Maersk reports that the levels are now increasing in certain parts of the river, allowing for a partial reinstatement of service to Manaus. Capacity on these vessels will be restricted. The situation could change again until the dry season ends in December.
Navegantes: Due to bad weather and strong currents, the port closed on Monday, 20 November. It is expected to remain closed until next week. However, a precise reopening date is not known.
Three vessels are currently at anchor: MSC Alessia, Ever Lenient and MSC Antigua. The Cape Tainaro departed earlier today. Cargo could be rerouted to alternate ports in the area, such as Paranagua and Itapoa.
Since the situation is weather-dependent, port closures and reopening are subject to change at short notice.
Mexico
Altamira: Adverse weather conditions persist, directly affecting the operation of the IPM terminal.
On 11 November, the terminal faced an interruption in its internet service, which is currently being restored. This has impacted the scheduling of export and import appointments through its portal.
This situation has affected the operation in general, resulting in notable delays in gate-in and gate-out of containers, with impacts on the availability of transportation. Customers are recommended to plan accordingly to avoid delays.
Lazaro Cardenas: The terminal continues to face congestion, notably affecting container gate-in and gate-out appointments and limiting transport availability.
Advanced cargo planning to avoid delays is recommended. Kuehne+Nagel Mexico notes changes in transport type, such as train to truck, are challenging and are experiencing significant delays. Congestion at the port is also delaying trucking services.
Oceania
Australia
As communicated by the labour unions, industrial action at DP World Terminals will continue until 27 November. This is causing delays and changes in services and port rotations as carriers try to minimise the impact on cargo. As a result, congestion at other terminals in Australia is increasing.
New Zealand
Auckland: Vessels arriving in Auckland from Australia are delayed due to industrial action, making it difficult for the port to provide berthing window consistency.
According to the Port of Auckland, although volumes are high, truck turnaround times are reasonable and cargo flow remains fluid. Rails services are running smoothly.
Other Port News
Asia
Indonesia
China Merchants Port Holdings has acquitted 51% of PT Nusantara Pelabuhan Handal Tbk (NPH), an Indonesian private port and logistics company. NPH operates two container terminals in Jakarta, Tanjung Priok, and one in Bangkok's Suksawat port, with a combined capacity of 1 million TEU, reports Lloyd's List.
North America
USA
Savannah: In a press release last week, the Georgia Port Authority announced the completion of berth renovations at Berth 1 at its Garden City Terminal. The completion means all berths are now open and operational, and the congestion seen as a result is expected to ease. The Garden City Terminal handled 129 ships in October, a 22% increase compared to last October.
Overall, the Port of Savannah handled 449,000 TEU in October - a 5% increase compared to October 2019 - making it its fourth-strongest October to date.
