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 6.67 days. However, carriers report excessive delays of up to 12 days for ships. 

Cameroon

Douala: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 3 days. Productivity for feeder vessels is low. Import yard capacity is around 77%.

Djibouti

Djibouti: The 7-day average vessel waiting time has improved to around 2 days. Overall yard capacity is around 80%, and reefer capacity is 95%. 

Gambia

Banjul: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 22 days. The port is experiencing severe congestion and works on a FIFO basis, with no berthing windows. 

Ghana

Tema: Due to weather delays and power outages, the 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 4.52 days. Four vessels are currently at anchor.

Libya

Benghazi: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 4.5 days.

Mozambique

Beira: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is 1 day. Some vessels can wait up to 14 days.

Maputo: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 1 day. However, some vessels can wait up to 2 days due to container terminal congestion. 

South Africa

Durban: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 6.21 days. Some carriers report vessel delays of up to 12 days at Pier 1 and 22 days at Pier 2. Delays are due to crane and equipment breakdowns. The number of waiting vessels has improved to two vessels this week.

Cape Town: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is 1 day. However, some vessels can wait up to 3 days due to weather delays.

Coega: Some carriers report waiting days of up to 2.75 days at NCT due to weather disruptions. 

Tanzania

Dar es Salaam: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 3 days. Five vessels were at anchor at the time of publishing.

UAE

Jebel Ali: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 1.76 days. Feeders can wait up to 56 hours for a berth. Empty yard density is over 90%. Seaexplorer shows 21 vessels anchored outside UAE ports.

Asia Pacific

Bangladesh/India

Storm Dana, currently in the Bay of Bengal, has developed into a severe cyclone and is expected to impact Odisha and West Bengal on 24-25 October. Ships calling at ports in the area have been asked to take shelter. Delays and disruptions to operations at Mongla, Chittagong, and Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Paradip Garh and Haldia can be expected. Read more

Chittagong: Prime movers and trailer workers began a 48-hour transport strike in Chittagong on 21 October at 06:00. As a result, several port and depot operations were disrupted. The strike was called off after an agreement was reached on 22 October. Delays due to backlogs at depots and ports are possible. Read more

China

Ningbo: Berthing congestion has eased overall. YZCT continues to be heavily congested, with 2-3 days waiting times.

Philipines

Manila: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 2.5 days due to heavy congestion at both terminals. Off-window vessels can wait more than 3 days. 

South Korea

Busan: At BNCT, yard occupancy is around 75%. The situation at the port remains highly dynamic due to vessel bunching and late arrivals affecting the berthing line-up. 

Sri Lanka

Colombo: Yard density at CICT is around 84%. Berthing delays for out-of-window vessels are 2-3 days. Nine vessels are currently at anchor outside Colombo.

Europe

Germany

Hamburg: Yard utilisation is at 114%, resulting in the port limiting empty returns for all carriers. Labour shortages at night and on weekends are adding to delays. Last week's train derailment continues to cause delays, cancellations, and disruption to rail freight. Sixteen vessels are at the Bremerhaven-Hamburg anchorage area.

Netherlands

Rotterdam: Yards are highly congested due to significant vessel calls and vessel bunching. Twelve vessels are currently waiting outside Rotterdam.

Spain

Spanish labour unions CCOO and UGT have announced a general strike in the road transport sector, set to begin on 28 October. Overall, 70% of employees in the sector are represented by UGT or CCOO. The strike will occur on 28 October, 11, 28, and 29 November, 5 and 9 December, and will become indefinite from 23 December. The movement of containerised cargo to and from the country's ports will likely be impacted during the strike days.

Algeciras: Yard density is around 80%, and reefer plug utilisation is high, affecting yard fluidity. Works on the north side of the berth will restrict berth availability, which may cause vessel delays.

Barcelona: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 2.5 days due to a high number of vessel calls and move counts. 

Valencia: Congestion continues due to high call volumes and move counts.

UK

London Gateway: The opening of Berth 4 has been postponed to 1 November, adding pressure on existing berths and resulting in move count restrictions. Empty stocks are above the free pool level, which could lead to return restrictions. 

North America

Canada

Montreal: The St. Lawrence River's low water levels are disrupting container vessel traffic, impacting cargo transport to and from the Port of Montreal. In addition, the overtime strike by port workers remains unresolved, causing delays in operations. Read more

Average Rail dwell times:

• Montreal - 9 days
• Halifax - 4 days
• Prince Rupert - 8 days
• Vancouver - 9 days

USA

Houston: Vessel waiting time has increased to almost 3 days this week. Three vessels are currently waiting outside the port for a berth. Landside operations are back to running smoothly with no delays. 

Miami: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 1.5 days, and one vessel is currently at anchor. The level of congestion fluctuates daily, primarily influenced by vessel schedules. Despite these variations, truck turn times have remained relatively consistent.

New York: Some vessel congestion has resulted in waiting times of around 1.5 days. Six ships were at anchor at the time of publishing. Truck appointment availability remains consistent, with no issues reported.

Norfolk: Vessel bunching keeps vessel waiting time slightly elevated. At the time of publishing, six vessels were waiting for a berth. The landside operation is improving, and the current turn time per container is about 1 hour. 

Savannah: Due to vessel bunching, the 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 2.4 days. According to seaexplorer, 13 vessels were at anchor at publishing. Port operations are running smoothly. There is no longer a delay in securing a chassis. 

Tampa: Port operations are still recovering after Hurricane Milton. Delays to vessel and landside operations can still be expected. 

South and Central America

Bolivia

Since Monday, 21 October, indefinite roadblocks at several road points have prevented the delivery of containers to Santa Cruz. The duration of this situation is still unknown. Delays and late deliveries of around 2 to 4 days on average can currently be expected. Read more

Brazil

Approximately 60,000 port workers in Brazil went on strike for 12 hours on Tuesday, 22 October. The strike took place from 07:00 to 19:00 local time and impacted stevedoring and port labour at all ports in Brazil. Delays and disruptions can be expected during this time and for some time after.

Navegantes: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 2 days, but some vessels can wait up to 14 days.

Santos: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 1.78 days. Some vessels calling BTP can wait up to 2-3 days. There are currently 7 vessels waiting for a berth.

Colombia

Cartagena: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is 1.5 days, but some vessels can wait up to 4 days. Yard occupancy is at around 97%, which could delay some operations.

Costa Rica

Caldera: The 7-day waiting time is around 1 day. The yard occupancy is approximately 95%, which could cause landside delays. 

El Salvador

Acajutla: The average 7-day vessel waiting time is around 10.75 days due to congestion. Docks A-1 and A-2 are undergoing repairs and maintenance, and a dock crane is also out of service. These constraints are causing significant delays for vessels before they can commence operations. Additionally, yard congestion and a trucker shortage have led to low availability, with an average wait time of 3-4 days. Container pick-up from the port is subject to trucking slot availability, and some carriers are reporting shortages of dry containers.

Mexico

Lazaro Cardenas: Yard occupancy is around 85%. The berthing line-up is congested with off-window vessels waiting 4 days.

Manzanillo: During the wind season, vessels will berth on a FIFO basis and have no fixed berthing windows.

Panama

Balboa: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is 1.6 days. The port is heavily congested, delaying container transhipment and creating a labour shortage to handle the increased volumes. 

Manzanillo: The 7-day average vessel waiting time is around 2.71 days. The yard is highly utilised at 85%. Pier 5 will be inactive for 2 weeks due to crane relocation. Rail delays will occur as contingency cargo will be moved via truck. Omissions due to cut-and-runs are possible. 

Did you miss our update from last week? You will find it here.

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