Kuehne+Nagel provides the most up-to-date port operational information for more informed decision-making. Our weekly port update covers the vessel waiting times at the top ten ports per region and other supply-chain disruptions.
Congo
Pointe Noire: Vessels wait more than 5 days for a berth in Pointe Noire. Yard congestion remains high.
Cameroon
Douala: Import yard occupancy is over 95% at the port. Vessel berthing delays have increased further this week to more than 7 days.
Egypt
Berthing delays at Alexandria and Damietta can be expected during adverse weather. Dredging works are to be completed in Alexandria at the end of February. Vessels are incurring waiting time in Damietta even when arriving within their berthing windows.
Tanzania
Dar es Salaam: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 16 days this week, slightly improving from last week's 18 days. The government has issued a directive on priority berthing affecting the vessel line. Yard congestion, vessel bunching and power outages have impacted productivity.
Saudi Arabia
Dammam: High yard utilisation is causing berthing delays and increasing vessel waiting times.
South Africa
Cape Town: Waiting times have increased this week in Cape Town to around 6 days. CTCT was windbound over the weekend. Carriers report some ships could wait up to 10 days for a berth. Equipment and weather issues are still causing low productivity.
Durban: The 7-day average vessel waiting time has increased to almost 10 days since the start of the week. Some carriers report vessels could wait up to 20 days for a berth. The port continues to have challenges with equipment and wind. According to seaexplorer, eight vessels are currently at anchor.
Port Elizabeth: The 7-day average vessel waiting time has increased this week to 2.5 days. There are currently two vessels at anchor.
UAE
Jebel Ali: The port closed for 14 hours last week due to heavy swells and rain. This has increased vessel waiting times.
Australia
According to Kuehne+Nagel sources, delays are improving at DP World Terminals after months of industrial action. Vessels are waiting, on average, between 2 and 4 days at DP World Terminals in Sydney and Brisbane.
Electrical Trades Union workers at DP World Brisbane began strikes on 20 February, which could last a week. The strike primarily affects the service and maintenance of semi-automated equipment, usually carried out by the electrical staff.
In Fremantle and Melbourne, vessel waiting times are around 1-2 days. The increased waiting time in Fremantle is also due to the heavy backlog from extended berth repairs at Patrick Terminal. There, vessels are waiting between 3-6 days for a berth.
China
According to seaexplorer, vessels waiting at anchor in Shanghai and Ningbo remain high, but waiting times are below 2 days. Shanghai's Yangshan terminal is experiencing some congestion in the yard and vessel lineup. Post-holiday congestion in Ningbo is improving. Vessel waiting time has improved to 1.5 days since the start of the week. Intermittent port closures in China due to dense fog can still be expected for the next week.
Singapore
According to seaexplorer's map of waiting vessels, the lineup in Singapore and the Tanjung Pelepas area is high. However, vessels wait on average 1.2 days for a berth in Singapore and 1 day in Tanjung Pelepas.
South Korea
Busan: Following the Lunar New Year holiday closures, the port closed last week for 14 hours due to dense fog. Yard utilisation is high mainly due to full and transhipment containers. Vessel waiting times are improving after additional calls and port closures caused some backlog.
Sri Lanka
Colombo: The container terminal is heavily congested due to Red Sea diversions. Eleven vessels are currently at anchor in Colombo. The average vessel waiting time is around 1 day.
France
French port workers will continue with protests this week with a 24-hour work stoppage on Thursday, 22 February. Another 24-hour strike is planned for Tuesday, 27 February. Due to strikes last week, waiting times for vessels rose to 4 days. This has since dropped to 1 day, with two vessels currently waiting at anchor. Delays, however, can be expected on and around strike days.
Greece
Thessaloniki: The 7-day average vessel waiting time has increased to around 3 days. Additional crane operating staff will join the terminal at the end of February. Productivity improvements are expected.
Canada
Vancouver: Due to congestion, in particular at Deltaport, and the shortage of rail cars, vessel waiting time is elevated in Vancouver. Six vessels are waiting at anchor.
USA
Kuehne+Nagel reports severe chassis shortages in several regions in the US, including Northeast, Southeast, West Coast (Seattle and Tacoma) and Central regions.
Houston: Berthing delays are due to vessel bunching. There are currently six vessels waiting at anchor.
Los Angeles/Long Beach: Southern California experienced heavy rainfall this week, followed by flooding warnings. Road closures and delays to terminal activities are possible.
Oakland: Delays to berthing times in Oakland were partly caused by a survey undertaken on a damaged ship. Five vessels are currently at anchor.
Argentina
Railway workers, members of the La Fraternidad Union, started a 24-hour nationwide strike in Argentina today, 21 February. Passenger and cargo trains are expected to cease operations across the country during the strike, which commenced at 00:01 and is planned to end at 23:59 (ART).
Brazil
Navegantes: Due to civil works on port infrastructure, arrival windows are suspended, creating a waiting line for a berth. Construction will be carried out in two phases, with only one side of the pier operational. Completion is expected in the second half of 2025. The port upgrade would improve infrastructure at the port, including allowing larger vessels to berth.
Santos: Vessels arriving out of their berthing windows contribute to overall berthing delays.
Mexico
Lazaro Cardenas: Intermodal activities, including the movement of transhipment containers between terminals, are slow-moving due to high yard congestion. This is affecting both rail and truck movements.
Find more up-to-date vessel waiting times and disruptions on seaexplorer.
