Port congestion is at an all-time high right now due to pandemic-driven disruptions ranging from the backlog at Yantian to soaring consumer demand. According to Splash247.com, “as of 3:20 p.m. Singapore time today, there were 328 ships idling in front of ports around the world with 116 ports reporting challenges, such as congestion.”
Many believe the significant rise in U.S. imports is largely to blame for worsening the current container ship crunch; however, severe weather conditions like the recent typhoon in China aren’t making things any better either. According to The Loadstar, “as In-Fa headed towards the city of Zhoushan, making landfall on Sunday, it prompted the closure of Shanghai’s air, sea, and rail hubs just 150km north.”
In response, carriers like Matson Inc. are launching new services in an attempt to improve cargo flow and ease these ongoing bottlenecks. Other leading organizations such as the IMO and WHO are also working to help address the situation by ensuring seafarers are prioritized to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, which would play a vital role in minimizing pandemic-induced delays.
To learn more about this week’s top stories in international shipping, check out the following article highlights:
