The Eurogate Container Terminal and Container Terminal Burchardkai, operated by the HHLA (Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG), are facing critical bottlenecks in truck handling.

Several factors contributed to the situation at the Port of Hamburg, including holiday closures in May, software updates, and construction works on two berths at Burchardkai.

Moreover, Eurogate terminal claims that major delays in ship arrivals in April and May have also played a role.

Due to the ships' delayed arrivals, terminal capacity and yard utilisation have significantly increased.

This led to a higher demand for re-stowing and longer travel distances for handling equipment, negatively affecting trucks' loading performance.

According to today's seaexplorer data, nine vessels are waiting outside the ports of Hamburg, Bremerhaven, and Wilhelmshaven. and the 7-day average vessel waiting time for Hamburg is 1.67 days.

Hours of delay for truck and rail

Despite booked time slots, trucks require up to two hours for container delivery and pick-up within the terminals.

Local media further reports that, due to road traffic, local transport trips before and after terminal visits can take up to four hours more than usual.

Rail operations have also been impacted in the past few weeks. Construction works interrupted rail access for two days in May.

Rail operator Eurogate Intermodal reported increasing delays and shipment cancellations as a result of the accumulated backlog.

Delays in container delivery and pick-up are likely to remain next week. If you have questions about your shipment, do not hesitate to contact your local Kuehne+Nagel representative.