Welcome to week 34 of the Global Logistics Update. We continue to bring you the latest insights, trends, and updates from the world of logistics. As we navigate through the second half of the year, the logistics industry continues to face dynamic challenges and opportunities, from technological advancements to evolving market demands.
South African Ports
South African ports continue with significant challenges especially Durban, and we highlight the latest publication below for further understanding:
Harbour carrier, changes to speed up cargo movement
Public and private stakeholders have agreed on changes to the landside dispatch of containers at the Port of Durban that will hopefully alleviate congestion and delays for harbour carriers.
The changes include alterations to Transnet’s current truck-slot booking system, the bane of transporters who have been complaining about IT failures preventing hauliers from securing slots, corruption by officials exploiting the system, and revenue loss resulting in business closure.
Earle Peters, chief executive of Durban Terminals at Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), said the changes would be implemented for a two-week trial period from 06h00 on 16 August, and primarily consist of batch-releasing boxes, extending the period for making bookings from four to 48 hours, and a daily 10h00 catch-up meeting with harbour carriers to thrash-out teething issues.
Several private-sector sources have commended the development that emerged from a meeting held between TPT, harbour carriers and related industry stakeholders on Tuesday, adding that they are cautiously optimistic to see how things pan out.
Continue Reading: https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/harbour-carrier-changes-speed-cargo-movement
Durban also experienced strong winds last week and appointment slots still constrained due to the high volume of containers moving through Durban port. Cape Town and PE also experienced strong winds, but port operations continue as normal with no severe delays. Port congestion and delays have been reported with Durban at 13-19 days, Cape Town 6 days and Coega 7 days on average.
We highlight in the images below, vessels currently at anchorage pending berth at our major ports, Local delays recorded, as well as Transnet statistics for Durban showing most delayed vessels with the number of days at anchorage:
Transnet Anchorage Report Published 19th August 2024:
Vessel Scheduling Amendments – information below is correct at time of publication:
- MSC Lorena – will perform a port swap and call Durban first. Vessel will also now call Coega instead of Port Elizabeth.
- Filotimo – vessel will now call Coega instead of Port Elizabeth.
- MSC Rosaria – with voyage 430N will omit Port Elizabeth and proceed to Cape Town after her Durban call.
- One Readiness 243N will omit Cape Town to maintain schedule integrity and discharge in Durban
- MSC Ishyka ZA430A will be performing a split discharge between CTMPT and CTCT
- Cosco Surabaya – Split discharge earlier at DRT and second call at Durban Pier 1.
Global Port Statistics
Port Updates:
Africa & Indian Ocean Islands
- East African services ex-South Africa remain under as MSC no longer sailing directly from Durban, resulting in longer transit times; Messina now only sail once monthly.
- Tema Port is experiencing port congestion which affects many other West African destinations that tranship through this port.
- Angola – Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Luanda port
- Ghana – Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Tema port
- Ivory Coast – Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Abidjan port
- Kenya – Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Mombasa port
- Mauritius – Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Port Louis
- Mozambique – Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Maputo port
- Namibia – Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Walvis Bay port
- Nigeria – Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Apapa port
- Senegal – Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Dakar port
- Tanzania – Berthing delays of 11 days experienced at Dar es Salaam port. High levels of congestion continue to be experienced at this port
North America
- Demand for Airfreight have increased mostly off the back of increased sea to air conversions due to ongoing challenges in Sea Freight supply chains.
- Frequent vessel schedule amendments in South Africa can have an impact on all round planning
- Canada – Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at this port
- Toronto – Berthing delays of 5 days experienced at this port
- Vancouver – Berthing delays of 5 days experienced at this port
USA
- New York/New Jersey – Vessel waiting time is up to 3 days. Truck line port congestion continues. We are seeing some summer labor shortages so number of gangs available for certain shifts may be reduced.
- Norfolk – Vessel waiting time is up to 2 days. Berth repair project is wrapping up in 2 weeks.
- Charleston – Vessel waiting time is up to 1 day. Port closed for 2 days to inbound traffic due to Storm Debbie.
- Savannah – Vessel waiting time is up to 6 days. Port closed for 2 days to inbound traffic due to Storm Debbie.
- Miami/Port Everglades – Vessel waiting time is up to 2 days.
- Houston – Vessel waiting time is up to 2 days.
- Oakland – Vessel waiting time is up to 3 days.
- Los Angeles/Long Beach – Vessel waiting time is up to 2 days.
- Seattle – Vessel waiting time is up to 5 days. Extended waiting periods are due to high volumes of Import Rail along with lack of rail cars. Washington United Terminal and Husky are limiting their operations to 1 berth operation until further notice, due to lack of rail cars to evacuate Imports. They are also delaying startup operations on vessels and skipping shifts for the same reason, if needed. T18 will be closed August 9, 16, 23 and 30, 2024. Husky Terminal will have hoot gates on August 12,13,14 and 15, 2024.
North West, United Kingdom, Mediterranean
- Vessel schedule delays continue to impact the region and EU Summer holidays has resulted in the usual reduction of staff at many key ports and terminal.
- Predictions are that peak season will start early in the EU as many importers & exporters aim to navigate the multiple disruptions faced by Sea Freight supply lines
- Belgium – Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Antwerp port
- France – Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Le Havre port
- Germany – Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Hamburg port and 2 days at Bremerhaven port
- Italy – Berthing delays of 5 days experienced at Genova port and 9 days at La Spezia port
- Netherlands – Berthing delays of 4 days experienced at Rotterdam port
- Spain – Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Barcelona port
- Sweden – Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Gothenburg port
- Turkey – Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Istanbul port
- United Kingdom – Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at London Gateway port
Indian Sub-Continent and Middle East
- Import services out of the Indian Sub-Continent are under pressure as capacity constraints remain
- India – Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Nhava Sheva and Chennai ports
- United Arab Emirates – Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Jebel Ali port
Asia Pacific – Oceania
- The port of Singapore remains heavily congested – This impacting services (both imports and exports) that are routed via Singapore
- Hong Kong/ Korea / Malaysia / Nansha – Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at these ports
- Qingdao/ Shanghai/ Xiamen – Berthing delays of 2 days experienced
- Ningbo/ Xingang – Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at this port
- Shekou – Berthing delays of 1 day experienced at Shekou port and no delays at Yantian port
- Singapore – Berthing delay of 1 day being experienced at this port. Containers transshipping in Singapore have expected delays of 2-3 weeks
- Taiwan – Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Kaohsiung port
- Vietnam – Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Hai Phong port and 1 day at Ho Chi Minh port
Freight News
We understand the importance of staying up to date with the latest trends, challenges, and advancements in our industry and we wish to highlight just a few articles which you might find of interest.
Ocean freight rates fall for third week – but USEC port strike a major threat
https://theloadstar.com/ocean-freight-rates-fall-for-third-week-but-usec-port-strike-a-major-threat/
Analysts evaluate disruption impact after Ningbo Port explosion puts safety in focus
https://trans.info/en/ningbo-port-explosion-safety-394770
Deadline set for strike at Indian government ports, say defiant union leaders
https://theloadstar.com/deadline-set-for-strike-at-indian-government-ports-say-defiant-union-leaders/
Alert to shippers as airfreight capacity becomes scarce and rates increase
https://theloadstar.com/alert-to-shippers-as-airfreight-capacity-becomes-scarce-and-rates-increase/
Durban gets five new tugboats
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/durban-gets-five-new-tugboats
Sources & References
Seatrade Maritime / Loadstar / Freight News / GoComet / Maersk / MSC / Transnet / WeFreight / Beacon / Joc / MSC / Maersk / Container Statistics / Flexport / SACO