by Priya Radünzel, SeaNewsEditor

Stay ahead of supply chain disruptions and port congestion with Kuehne+Nagel’s weekly port operational update.

Middle East Africa

Algeria

Algiers: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 2.67 days due to congestion caused by slow container scanning.

Djibouti

Djibouti: Severe weather, strong wind and a dust storm caused delays in week 36. This increased the 7-day average vessel waiting time to around 2.43 days.

Gambia

Banjul: The port is experiencing severe congestion with no berthing windows available, resulting in waiting times of around 10 days. However, some vessels can wait up to 22 days.

South Africa

Cape Town: Frequent winds caused delays and disruptions. At CTCT delays are up to 3 days.

Durban: The average waiting time is around 2.75 days due to frequent adverse weather. No strong winds are expected this week. Current delays are 11 days at Pier 1 and 15 days at Pier 2.

Port Elizabeth: Frequent strong winds increased vessel waiting times to around 7 days. Strong winds are forecasted for Wednesday, with no major delays anticipated for the rest of the week. Delays of up to 2 days were reported at NCT / PECT.

Tanzania

Dar es Salam: The 7-day average vessel waiting time increased to around 9 days. Additionally, crane issues continue to persist.

UAE

Jebel Ali: The terminal yard density at T4 is around 95%. DP World Terminal is liming discharge moves to manage yard density.

Asia Pacific

Australia

Australian dockworkers have voted to strike in Brisbane, Melbourne and Port Kembla as early as this week. The workers will begin bans and limitations at ports operated by logistics company QUBE Logistics. Read more

Melbourne: Protesters in Melbourne have escalated their actions by targeting trucks in a coordinated act of vandalism. At least five heavy vehicles were immobilised by cutting air lines between the prime mover and the trailer combination to immobilise the trucks. These actions severely impacted container freight movements on 11 September. The protest action could continue for the remainder of the week.

Bangladesh

Chittagong(Chattogram): The port remains heavily congested; however, it is working on delivering import containers to ease the yard's utilisation. The average 7-day vessel waiting time is around 3.51 days.

China

Shanghai: Berth congestion remains high due to the bunching of incoming vessels and a high number of calls.

India

The Ganpati Visarjan festival in the Indian province of Maharashtra will result in logistics challenges from 7 to 13 September. The majority of truckers will be participating in the celebrations. Delays at both Nhava Sheva and Mundra ports can be expected. In addition, Mundra is still affected by the heavy rains/flooding, and delays are to be expected.

Kolkata: Truckers affiliated with the Federation of West Bengal Truck Operators Association announced a three–day strike in West Bengal State from 11 to 13 September. The labour action is likely to impact trucking operations to and from the port. During the labour stoppage, order fulfilment and delivery may experience temporary delays. Local cargo transportation by road will also be delayed, especially if truckers block roadways. Read more

Japan

Yokohama: The average 7-day vessel waiting time is around 2 days due to the aftermath of Typhoon Shanshan.

New Zealand

Tauranga: Several vessels were omitted from schedules last week due to delays offshore and around the coast. This week, the port expects managing off-window vessels to be challenging, leading to potential berth and yard congestion. Labour management could be difficult towards the end of the week due to hour constraints.

In addition, Crane 2's demolition starts on 29 September and will last five weeks, reducing the usable quay length. A new crane will begin construction on 19 September and take three months to complete, occupying two container locks and further reducing yard capacity. Replacement crane parts will arrive around 7-10 October, with a heavy lift discharge vessel in port for 1.5 days, which may cause additional disruptions.

Philippines

Manila:  The average 7-day vessel waiting time decreased to around 4 days. However, the monsoon season is causing frequent interruptions and ongoing congestion.

Vietnam

Haiphong: The port is still severely disrupted by the aftermath of supertyphoon Yagi; however, operations have resumed.

Europe

Germany

Labour union ver.di and Central Association of German Seaport Companies (ZDS) reached an agreement at wage negotiations last Friday. The union's Federal Collective Bargaining Commission (BTK) recommended the revised offer, minimising the risk of future warning strikes. The BTK will decide on the offer based on the results of a member survey. A final decision is expected at their meeting on 27 September 2024. Read more

Hamburg: Yard occupancy is around 98%. Following last week’s warning strikes, rail companies report delays for both import and export trains due to the high yard density in the port.

Greece

Piraeus:  Feeders can wait up to 6 days for a berth. The yard utilisation is around 92%. 

Portugal

Ports in Portugal will witness a series of strikes in September to push for retirement amendments. The strikes will last 48 hours each and take place between 16 and 30 September.

Slovenia

Koper: Due to ongoing issues with Slovenian Railways, train schedules have been adjusted, and 12 pairs of trains to/from Koper have been cancelled. Recent disruptions include damaged overhead lines, construction lockouts, track damage, and security malfunctions. 

Spain

Barcelona:  Seasonal labour shortage, a high number of vessel calls and move counts, and yard congestion are causing delays.

United Kingdom

Liverpool: This week, the port is bracing itself for high winds. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2's empty park and rail were at full stop today, 11 September.

North America

Canada

Average rail dwell times:

• Halifax: 9 days
• Montreal: 9 days
• Prince Rupert: 9 days
• Vancouver: 12 days

USA

Hurricane Francine is approaching the Louisana coast. The storm could strengthen to Category 2 before it makes landfall, causing storm surges at the coast.

Houston: The port is forecast to shut down its operations in preparation for Hurricane Francine.

New Orleans: The New Orleans Terminal and Ports America (including the LA Ave. Chassis Terminal) will be closed on 11 September. Normal operations on 12 September are pending. Terminal operators will be conducting damage assessments, and operations may resume at noon, weather and terminal conditions permitting.

South and Central America

Brazil

Santos: Due to ongoing severe weather, the 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 2.35 days.

Costa Rica

Caldera: Heavy rains are affecting port operations. Yard utilisation is around 92%, resulting in strong limitations of empty containers.

Chile

Public holidays taking place from 18 to 20 September will reduce port operations as follows :

• Puerto Coronel :
• 18-20 September: Vessel operations will continue as usual. There will be no cargo entry/exit operations and no depot services.
• 22 September: No operations

• San Vincente Terminal Internacional:
• 18-20 September: Vessel operations will continue as usual. Gate control /yard/depot/ CFS will be closed. Operations will resume on Saturday, September 21, at 08:00 local time.

• Valapriso:
• 18-20 September: the terminal will operate with deferred direct work schedules, which will resume on 21 September in the first shift. Dispatches to exporters will resume on 20 September in the first shift.

• Lirquen
• 16 -17 September: Normal operation until 21:00 for all operational areas.
• 18 September: Container release requests until Tuesday at 15:00.
• 19 September: Container release requests until Wednesday at 11:00.
• 20 September: Container release requests until Thursday at 11:00.
• 21 September: Normal operation until 21:00 for all operational areas.
• 22 September: Closed

Mexico

Yard occupancy is more than 90% in Ensenada, Lazaro Cardenas, Veracruz, and Manzanillo, causing delays.

Altamira: IPM pier 4 has a draft restriction of around 11 meters due to a detected siltation.

Panama

Balboa: The port is heavily congested, delaying container transhipment and creating a labour shortage to handle the increased volumes. 

Rodman: The port is currently severely congested.

Panama’s Atlantic terminals have exceeded 95% yard occupancy, slowing operations to 30 movements per hour, below the optimal 50. Ships are docked longer, reducing capacity for others. This issue has worsened recently, and authorities lack a contingency plan. Vessels can wait up to a month for a berth.

Cristobal: The 7-day vessel waiting time is around 5 days.

Manzanillo: The 7-day vessel waiting time is around 2.54 days.

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