by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor
Due to congestion in North Europe's key maritime gateways, Rotterdam, Hamburg and Le Havre, carriers are seeking the Port of Antwerp as an alternative.
However, this has placed pressure on yard capacity at the port's terminals.
DP World recently reported a critical situation regarding yard occupancy at their Terminal Quay 1700.
"We are facing an extreme yard situation on our Antwerp Gateway Terminal. Increased dwell times, contingency transhipment etc… are causing a yard utilisation that, if no additional measures are taken, will lead to a standstill in our operations," writes DP World in an advisory.
To manage this, DP World is reshuffling priorities in the berth lineup to expedite the clearance of export and transhipment containers.
Additionally, they have announced that they will not accept contingency discharge and transhipment for nearby ports and will prioritise import deliveries over exports.
Carrier OOCL has acknowledged the significant pressure this situation places on daily operations.
Kuehne+Nagel reports that trucking slots at the port have also been exhausted, and the terminal will not allow deliveries until 22:00 on Monday, 17 February.
As a result, delays in truck and barge handling are expected.
In addition to the DP World Terminal, other terminals in Antwerp are also facing high yard utilisation.
In its latest operational update, Hapag-Lloyd highlighted that PSA terminals are operating at 80-85% yard utilisation, with reefer utilisation at approximately 60%.
Congestion in nearby ports
Increased volumes and the launch of MSC and Gemini Cooperation's new networks are two key drivers of congestion at the ports of Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Bremerhaven.
Some shipping lines, including MSC, are temporarily storing containers in Felixstowe. However, there is a lack of clear information regarding the transhipment and subsequent transportation of these containers to Rotterdam.
The strikes in all French ports are also adding to the pressure, as dockworkers continue their strike throughout February.
Kuehne+Nagel continues to monitor the situation closely. For the latest update, please refer to our seaxplorer map or reach out to your local Kuehne+Nagel representative.
