Why are we experiencing port congestion in the shipping industry?
Port congestion means that ships arrive at the port and cannot load or unload, as the terminal is already full. So, they can only queue up and wait for their turn to get a spot at the port.
Port congestion is a major challenge faced by many ports globally and can occur due to various reasons:
Port or terminal is booked to more than its capacity
Delays caused by bad weather which results in vessels lining up outside
Industrial action or strikes
Conflicts
Pandemics like COVID-19
Lack of port handling equipment
Slow productivity
Lack of yard space
Restricted port access
Location of the port
These issues can create a backlog on the shore side operations. This affects the productivity of the port/terminal, resulting in the ship on the berth working longer and the ships waiting outside for the berth to wait longer while other vessels keep adding to the queue.
Current Shipping Situation
- Can I ship cargo to/from Ukraine at the moment?
- At Twill and A.P. Moller – Maersk, we have been constantly evaluating the situat...
- What is Foodstuff, Medical or Humanitarian goods?
- Foodstuffs and medicines are for human and animal consumption and essential for ...
- What is happening in shipping these days and why?
- To find out more what is happening in shipping these days and why, please head o...
- What will happen to my cargo if it is already loaded on vessels or discharged at a port in Ukraine or Russia?
- Twill and Maersk have now stopped all vessel operations in Russia and service wi...
- Are there any exceptions when it comes to shipping cargo to/from Russia?
- No. Twill and Maersk have now stopped all vessel operations in Russia. For the d...
- Can I ship/transport cargo from neighbouring countries of Russia that originates from Russia or is going to Russia?
- Adhering to sanctions, such shipments must be treated as direct Russian shipment...
- How will the new sanctions and export controls that are being applied to Russia affect my cargo already underway to Russia?
- We are keeping a very close eye on developments with regards to sanctions and ma...
- Can I ship cargo to or from Belarus at the moment?
- No. Twill and Maersk, being responsible market participants, acting in complianc...
- Why are we experiencing port congestion in the shipping industry?
- Vessels do not reach ports when scheduled, as they face longer waiting times to ...
- Can I ship cargo to/from Russia at the moment?
- No. Twill and Maersk have now stopped all vessel operations in Russia. For the ...
- What are my options if I want to divert my cargo?
- For cargo already on its way to Russia and Ukraine, that we are currently unable...
- When will the current shipping situation go back to normal?
- We will keep monitoring the situation and reviewing impacts from sanctions, with...
- Is the current shipping situation affecting other ports?
- We are starting to see the effect on global supply chain flows resulting in unpr...
- How are intercontinental rail services affected by the current situation?
- Twill and Maersk do not accept any new bookings to any of the services, includin...
- Where can I find more information about the current situation?
- For more information about the situation in Ukraine and Russia, please visit Mae...
- What is dual-use cargo?
- Dual use items are items that are mainly used for commercial/civilian purposes b...
- How long will these processes be in place?
- Twill and Maersk have now stopped all vessel operations in Russia and service wi...
- Where can I find information on the situation in shipping?
- If you have any additional questions or concerns about this situation, please ge...
- Where can I get help if my cargo is being affected?
- If your cargo is affected by the current situation, one of our Twillers will rea...
- What happens to my cancelled booking if I already have picked up my container(s)?
- Please reach out to our customer care team. They will support you in creating a ...
- What are you doing to mitigate the impact this will have on global supply chains?
- Together with Maersk, we are working hard to manage the impact of the current sh...
- What are the latest ocean freight market trends?
- Across the globe, most ports are facing operational delays, such as the Yantian ...
- What is the current situation in shipping?
- We are experiencing a challenging period for ocean freight. We are working hard ...