by Fiona Nagorsnik, 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 3.33 days due to congestion.

Djibouti

Djibouti: Strong winds created longer vessel waiting times of around 2 days in week 32. In addition, the MV Groton, which was hit by missiles in the Gulf of Aden, is currently anchored in the port and occupies an additional berth. Read more here.

Ghana

Tema: The 7-day average vessel waiting decreased to around 2.75 days. However, high congestion continues in the port.

Mozambique

Beira: Crane issues resulted in waiting times of around 4.5 days. However, the repairs are estimated to be completed by the end of August.

Tanzania

Dar es Salaam: The 7-day average vessel waiting time increased to around 11 days due to power supply, crane, and systems issues.

South Africa

Durban: Winds were reported for the 14th of August. The average vessel waiting time is around 5.75 days, but Pier 1 can have a waiting time of up to 10 days, and Pier 2 can have a waiting time of up to 25 days. Port equipment shortages, crane outages, and dredging of berths are significantly slowing down land and waterside productivity. At the time of publishing, 5 vessels were waiting for berth.

Port Elizabeth: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 3.25 days. Strong winds are forecast for 14, 15 and 17 August.

Cape Town: Strong winds are forecast for 14,15 and 17 August. Vessel ranging and system problems affected the terminal's operational performance in week 32.

Asia Pacific

Australia

Fremantle: As of Sunday morning, 18 August, members of the Australian Maritime Officers Union (Pilot boat operators and vessel traffic service officers) will stop their work for a minimum of 48 hours due to ongoing pay debates, leading to a potentially severe delay that could last for weeks.

Japan:

Typhoon Ampil is currently active in the western Pacific Ocean, with winds of up to 200 km/h. It is expected to strengthen over the next 36 hours and reach the coast of Japan on 16 August.

At the moment, it is unclear whether the typhoon will make landfall or stay just offshore. However, rail services have been suspended, and some parts of northern and eastern Japan may experience heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, and high waves.

Bangladesh:

Chittagong: The port of Chittagong (Chattogram) is heavily congested with an ongoing equipment shortage. There are still 43,500 TEU of uncleared imports in the port. The amount is increasing daily. The main reason is the storage/demarcation fees that the recipients cannot afford. The government has not yet decided to waive the fees.

The berthing time of feeder vessels has increased and is now between 6 and 8 days. Today, 16 vessels are waiting for a berth at the outer anchorage.

China

Dense fog and strong winds caused interruptions in several ports across China in week 32.

Ningbo: A massive explosion followed by a fire on the YM Mobility shut down operations in the port of Ningbo on 9 August. Several firefighter tugs, as well as shore-based firefighters, were deployed to bring the fire under control. 

The Phase 3 terminal of the port of Ningbo was closed over the weekend but did reopen on 12 August. Nevertheless, delays and disruptions are still likely. Read more here

Shanghai: The berth congestion increased in week 32 due to the bunching of incoming vessels and a high number of calls. The waiting time is around 2 days.

India:

Nhava Sheva: Nhava Sheva and Mumbai experienced heavy rains last week. Due to bad road conditions, the waiting period for empty pickup was 2-3 days, and trucker queues were 2-3 km in the majority of the yards.

Additionally, a potential warning strike might occur if the meetings between the transporters and the authorities that are planned for 16 and 17 August fail to reach an agreement. Read more here.

Mundra: The severe rains of the monsoon season continue in Mundra. Moreover, the severe congestion is causing additional delays.

Malaysia

Port Klang: Although the overall situation stabilised, the yard utilisation remains high, with a density of over 90%.

Singapore

Singapore: The waiting time has improved, but yard utilisation and berth congestion remain high.

South Korea

Busan: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 1.25 days. The waiting time increased in week 32 due to the bunching of incoming vessels and an increased number of transhipment calls.

Sri Lanka:

Colombo: A fire broke out for yet unknown reasons on the MSC Capetown III on 11 August in the port of Colombo. The port fire brigade brought the situation under control, and all crew members and operations staff were safely evacuated. The extent of the damage cannot yet be determined. Read more here.

Moreover, bunching vessels are causing additional delays.

Philippines:

Manila: The average 7-day vessel waiting time is around 4.75 days due to severe berth congestion caused by the bunching of late incoming vessels.

Europe

United Kingdom

Felixstowe: On 9 August, a fire close to the tracks outside of Ipswich stopped the rail service to and from Felixstowe. Moreover, the port is congested due to labour shortages.

Southampton: The yard density increased to around 85-93%. To decrease the empty stock, the authorities suspended the receipt of empty containers. Moreover, export containers are only accepted a maximum of 10 days before the vessel's arrival. Crane maintenance is causing additional delays.

Greece:

Piraeus: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 2.75 days due to a high number of vessels calling the port. Feeder vessels can wait up to 5 days.

Germany

Hamburg: Due to the discovery of a bomb from World War II on 14 August and the associated defusing, there are currently additional delays and disruptions in the CTB. Read more here.

• CTA: Yard utilisation is at around 80% and forecast to decrease even further. The last phase of the shore power construction is in place and is estimated to last 4 weeks. The berth is fully occupied, and the vessels arrive one after the other.
• CTB: The terminal made up for the cargo backlog caused by a labour shortage in week 32. The berth is fully occupied, the vessels arrive one after the other, and potential gaps are used to handle feeder vessels. A general meeting of employees on 20 August will cause some disruptions in the operations.

Netherlands

Rotterdam:

• ECT: The lack of labour as well as crane repairs and outages are causing ongoing delays and disruptions.

Belgium

Antwerp: The port is still experiencing congestion in the MPET terminal caused by an oil spill several weeks ago.

Spain:

Congestion is ongoing in the ports of Barcelona and Valencia.

Romania

Constanta: A bridge crane upgrade at CSCT Terminal is causing congestion and delays, resulting in carriers changing port rotations or vessel calls. The delays are also impacting neighbouring terminals. The situation is expected to continue until the upgrade is completed.

North America

United States

New York: The port is currently severely congested, resulting in long queues to return empty containers, as well as to pick up import containers

Savannah: In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Debby, the average 7-day vessel waiting time is around 2.3 days.

Canada

The average rail dwell times are high in the following ports:

Prince Rupert: 9 days

Vancouver: 10 days

The Canadian Industrial Relations Board has cleared the way for a potential nationwide railway strike starting 22 August, pending a 72-hour notice from the union. Canadian National and Pacific Kansas City railroads prepare for possible lockouts if negotiations fail.

South and Central America

Mexico

Lazaro Cardenas: Berth occupancy is high. The crane maintenance is finished, and it is fully operational again. Due to a high yard occupation, APMT will restrict intra-terminal transfers.

Manzanillo: The 7-day vessel waiting time is around 2 days due to a high number of vessels calling the port.

Uruguay

Montevideo: Strikes closed down the port on 7 August as well as on 9 August.

Peru

Callao: High swells caused disruptions from 5 to 9 August.

Brazil

Dense fog caused frequent suspensions in the in-and-out manoeuvres in Navegantes, Santos, and Paranagua.

Guatemala:

Santo Tomas de Castilla: Protesters blocked the entrance of the port from 6 to 8 August. The blockade significantly impacted the port's activities, preventing the entry of approximately 1,800 import and export containers. Read more here.

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