In recent months, the global logistics supply chain has been rocked by shipping delays and port congestion that threaten to disrupt it. Poor shipping schedules and low punctuality rates are exacerbating congestion in northern European hubs and forcing carriers to temporarily stop calling at some of Europe's key ports. The ports of Rotterdam and Hamburg, Europe's two largest container ports, are facing congestion that has forced shipping companies to skip ports -- rerunning and suspending calls.

Between January and May 2021, as many as 695 ships were delayed by more than a week, with 343 ships more than 14 days late and 132 ships more than 21 days late, according to Sea Intelligence.

That compares with 1,535 vessels delayed for more than a week, 330 for more than two weeks and a total of 104 vessels delayed for more than 21 days in the nine-year period from January 2012 to December 2020.

In addition, 461 vessels on the Asia-Northern Europe route were delayed for more than seven days between January and May 2021, with 134 delayed for more than 14 days and 30 delayed for more than 21 days, according to sea Intelligence statistics.

By comparison, in the nine-year period from January 2012 to December 2020, 792 ships were delayed by more than seven days. During the same period, 35 ships were delayed by more than 14 days and only two were delayed by more than 21 days.

"Congestion is far from over," notes Sea Intelligence, a shipping consultancy. In May 2021 alone, 174 ships calling at North American ports on trans-Pacific routes were delayed by more than seven days; in Asia-Europe routes, the figure was 114; Across the Atlantic, the figure is 169. In the same month, 99 vessels on the Asia-Indian subcontinent route were delayed by more than a week, while in Asia-Oceania, the figure was 134.

In addition to the Hepagroit and 2M jumps, CMA CGM has reported that the reliability of its EUROSAL service from Northern Europe to the west coast of South America and the Caribbean has been affected by severe congestion and low productivity in Northern Europe for several months. Unfortunately, the situation is not expected to improve with the arrival of summer. Therefore, in order to maintain the quality of service, EUROSAL services will suspend its Le Havre docking for three months from 6 July 2021.

Maersk levying far East to Northern Europe and Mediterranean ★

Maersk announced on 30 June that, in view of current market conditions and in order to avoid disruption or delay in cargo shipments, the peak season surcharge (PSS) will be imposed from 15 July 2021 for dry containers from the Far East to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean at a standard rate of us $1,000 per 20 ft dry container and US $2,000 per 40'40H'45H dry container.

Maschi also lists the rates to be charged from Shanghai to The Port of Algeciras in Spain with immediate effect until further notice. These fees are subject to change in the future and customers will be informed in due course.

In addition, in response to high container demand and operational delays caused by global congestion, Maersk announced the launch of two new Far East-US TPX and TP20 services. Maersk will be the sole operator of the new service, which starts in August.

The TPX route, operated by 3500TEU vessels, will include calls in Yantian, Ningbo and Los Angeles.

The TP20 route, which deploys 4,500TEU container ships, will call at Toulton, Ningbo, Shanghai, Norfolk and Baltimore.

Maersk said the introduction of TPX and TP20 would not result in any changes to its existing transport network.

★ THE取消亚洲至地中海航次 ★

由Hapag-Lloyd、Ocean Network Express(ONE)、Yang Ming和HMM组成的航运联盟THE Alliance宣布了对其亚洲-地中海航线的服务网络的调整取消数个航次。

Hapag-Lloyd公布了联盟MD1和MD3服务时间表的更改如下：

According to the company's statement, customers who have a reservation and want to choose the options listed above will have the option to modify their reservation。

(Source: Shipping Network)