High vessel volumes, spikes in container throughput and diminished operational capability due to COVID safe-working is creating high yard density at the port, resulting in terminal-wide congestion which means vessels are unable to complete empty loading or have diverted to other ports, not loading export containers. Import volumes at Felixstowe have been 30% higher than …
The ongoing congestion and industrial action at Sydney port, which caused schedule disruption to many carriers and prompted Maersk to stop acceptance of all bookings for the port, has been withdrawn. The move to withdraw industrial action at Sydney port, will bring relief to shippers and shipping lines that have suffered an 11-day backlog of …
Formed in 1946, the African specialist shipping line Safmarine, which is represented in more than 130 countries, was acquired in 1999 by Maersk. Earlier this month Maersk announced that it was closing the Safmarine brand at the end of the year, integrating it into Maersk Line. What are the market implications? Maersk’s decision to drop …
The ongoing impact of Coronavirus on the workforce and terminal operating practices at Felixstowe has reduced productivity which, with unexpected demand spikes, has resulted in high yard density impeding operations and prompted drastic action from port management. To clear backlogs and ease port congestion, Felixstowe will not accept any export empty containers at the Port …
The perfect storm threatening container haulage There is not an industry sector that has not been impacted to some extent by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even those deemed ‘essential’ have had to battle unprecedented economic and operational challenges, but few have felt the impact quite as keenly as the hauliers that serve the container sector. Container …
Port operations have been severely diminished and inland distribution massively disrupted by the coronavirus, lockdowns and safe-working practices, which delay the unloading of containers and repositioning of equipment back to China. As European importers struggle to return empty containers to China, fears grow of container shortages threatening supply chains in the current peak shipping season. …
As the container shipping lines continue to control capacity tightly, announcing a new series of blanked sailings in October on the Asia – Europe trade, they are preparing for their annual contract negotiations with the largest shippers on the critical route, with many anticipating higher long term prices. Sea freight spot rates from Asia-Europe have …
European ports used to be the world’s busiest and largest ports, but have been eclipsed by the impact of globalisation and the massive growth of container ports in Asia. European ports still have a major role to play in global trade and, as an island nation, particularly so for the UK. There are 120 commercial …
The current market conditions are a real mixed bag dependent on trade lane, mode of transport and region. Whilst some areas of global trade are experiencing extreme congestion, other areas are operating as normal for this time of year. Below is an overview of the current situation. Sea Freight Focusing on the westbound import ocean …
Felixstowe is experiencing very high volumes of containers throughput as hauliers are booked up from most of next week, reporting on poor loading times quay side, suggesting potential labour issues and an impact of new processes. The Port of Felixstowe is Britain’s biggest and busiest container port, handling more than 4 million TEUs each year …