Advisories

South Africa terminal and service update week 13

27 March 2024
India Middle East and Africa South Africa
To ensure our customers are kept informed, here is our latest update on conditions across the terminals and mitigating actions being taken to address the delays on our services.

Ports and Terminals Situation

Terminal Commentary
Terminal
Cape Town CTCT
Commentary
  • Waiting time at 4-5 days – some wind impact this week that will see waiting time push out 1-2 days
  • Productivity close to target
  • Full recovery is estimated in a further 2 weeks (not withstanding possible Southeaster wind delays).
Terminal
Cape Town MPT
Commentary
  • 4-5 days delay
  • Very low productivity due to intermittent MHC (mobile harbour cranes) breakdowns
  • No improvement on week 12
Terminal
Port Elizabeth PECT
Commentary
  • 2-4 days waiting time – some wind impact
  • 2x STS (ship to shore) and 1x MHC operational are fully operational.
  • Productivity meeting target rates
Terminal
Port Elizabeth NCT
Commentary
  • 4-5 days waiting time
  • 2 berth operation – Berth D102 out until end March
  • Crane 6,7 and 8 out for repairs.
  • Recovery estimated beginning April.
Terminal
Durban DCT Pier 2
Commentary
  • No improvement to wk. 12 update
  • 24-28 days waiting time.
  • Productivity remains well below target
  • STS breakdown and straddle carriers’ reliability and availability remain compromised (54 straddles available vs optimal 97)
  • Medium term equipment recommissioning - June/July STS on South Quay and straddle carriers from mid-year.
  • Limited truck scheduled impacting imports collection and exports stacking
  • Recovery estimated at 3-5 month
Terminal
Durban Pier 1
Commentary
  • Slight improvement from 5 days to 4 days waiting time.
  • Poor STS and RTG reliability and availability
  • Productivity below target
  • Recovery estimated in 3-4 weeks
Terminal
Port Louis (Mauritius)
Commentary
  • Terminal fully recovered - O days waiting time
Terminal
Rail DUR to JNB (City Deep and GLO Denver)
Commentary
  • Fully operational with some limited restrictions on capacity
  • Road transport alternatives available
Terminal
Rail JNB (City Deep and GLO Denver) to DUR
Commentary
  • Fully operational with some restrictions on export rail intents
  • Road transport alternatives available

Vessel Operations

We will minimise delays through network actions and contingencies which shall compensate for any delays in cargo arrival and export loading . All imports will be discharged and load movements (full and empty) may be reduced depending on productivity achieved versus the pro forma and the required departure times. Upon departure from South Africa, our vessels shall sail at full speed to make up for lost time and ensure the timely arrival at the destination. The table below outlines current plans and decisions. (Please refer to Maersk.com for the most up to date schedule updates)

Service Commentary
Service
SAECS (278)
Commentary
  • Exports: Space available and SPOT bookings open
  • Imports: Some limited space available
  • Post grape season – DG and 20’ slot restrictions are lifted from the MEHUIN (eta NCT 21st March)
  • NCT Vessels – with some port congestion and crane outages causing delays in the line-up, expecting 1-3 days delay on future vessels.
  • Durban P1 - recovery in Progress, waiting time 2-3 days going forward.
  • Cape Town CTCT - Productivity is stable but below target – expect some delays on berthing versus proforma.
  • MEHUIN arriving late from EUR and will be delayed berthing at NCT – eta now 21st March. Vessel making limited call at CTCT prior NCT call to discharge 23 containers. CPT imports will discharge on her scheduled CTCT call 04th April.
  • ETA into EUROPE will be delayed by 1-3 days.
Service
AMEX (040)
Commentary
  • Exports – full and SPOT bookings closed up to LORI
  • Imports – space available
  • Although vessels arriving late from NAM – standard service pattern is restored, calling Port Elizabeth then Durban and Cape Town
  • Cape Town terminal may vary between MPT and CTCT depending on availability, wind stoppages and crane availability. SI deadlines may move – and will provide as much lead time as possible.
  • 1-3 days waiting time in PECT, 2-4 days at Durban P1 – recoverable in Cape Town
Service
SAFARI (160)
Commentary
  • Exports – restricted export load moves with SPOT bookings closed up to SAN FELIPE
  • Imports – full and SPOT bookings closed.
  • Improvement of westbound call into Port Louis. CCNI Arauco will be arriving on time with on time connection with Cape Town Express (163).
  • Eastbound Port Louis call after Durban DCT has been removed from service given Durban delays.
  • DCT berth delay 24-28 days – and expect to gain around 11-14 days in waiting time end of March due to the Chinese New Year blanking.
  • Hong Kong call has been added to proforma for Citrus season - first vessel to call Hong Kong will be SAN CHRISTOBAL 418N.
  • Terminal truck appointments remain constrained.
  • Vessels will sail at full service speed on departure from DURBAN to make up time in the schedule and further schedule recovery actions in FEA will ensure on time arrival back at DURBAN anchorage.
Service
Cape Town Express (163)
Commentary
  • Exports: Space available and SPOT bookings open ex Cape Town
  • Imports: Limited space – restricted moves at Port Louis
  • Maintaining Safari WB call before CPT Express at Port Louis to ensure all connections are made for Cape Town Imports
  • Due to 24 day waiting time in Durban, SAFARI will not call Port Louis EB.
  • Exports on Cape Town Express will connect at Port Louis onto M Express for connection to Far East destinations.
Service
MW1 and PROTEA (251)
Commentary
  • PROTEA Exports – full and SPOT bookings closed for next 4 voyages.
    PROTEA Imports – some limited space available.
  • MESAWA (MW1) Exports – space available and SPOT bookings open ex Cape Town (Service not calling Durban)
  • MW1 service delayed ex West Africa and with berthing delays at both Cape Town and Durban ports – service will continue to call Cape Town only. (Durban call reinstatement has been moved out to June).
  • PROTEA schedule heavily impacted by DURBAN delays (22 days at DCT) – service will call Durban each voyage and alternate between Port Elizabeth and Reunion to manage delays into Middle East and protect Jebel Ali and Durban arrival.
Terminal Commentary
Terminal
Depots
Commentary
  • Durban dry depot capacity improving
  • Please refer to our to our local information pages https://www.maersk.com/local-information/imea/south-africa/import and our daily advisory for our latest empty turn in depot information Click Here
  • Please note we will have restricted Depot Operational hours for the Easter Weekend –Friday 29th March to Monday 01st April. Please consult links above for detail

Vessel Operations

We will minimise delays through network actions and contingencies which shall compensate for any delays in cargo arrival and export loading . All imports will be discharged and load movements (full and empty) may be reduced depending on productivity achieved versus the pro forma and the required departure times. Upon departure from South Africa, our vessels shall sail at full speed to make up for lost time and ensure the timely arrival at the destination. The table below outlines current plans and decisions. (Please refer to Maersk.com for the most up to date schedule updates)

Service Commentary
Service
SAECS (278)
Commentary
  • Exports: Space available and SPOT bookings open
  • Imports: Some limited space available
  • NCT Vessels – with some port congestion and crane outages causing delays in the line-up, expecting 1-3 days delay on future vessels.
  • Durban P1 - recovery in Progress, waiting time 2-3 days going forward.
  • Cape Town CTCT - Productivity is stable but below target – expect some delays on berthing versus proforma. SANTA CLARA currently alongside.
    MEHUIN due 03rd April then planned CTCT port omission on KALAHARI EXPRESS.
  • ETA into EUROPE will be delayed by 1-3 days.
  • Note from Week 19 a service slide ex North Europe will take place – outcome of the delays in South Africa and heavy seas and weather through Bay of Biscay. The one-week slide will reset the weekly schedule into South Africa.
Service
AMEX (040)
Commentary
  • Exports – limited space opening up – SPOT booking reopening from MAERSK VILNIUS
  • Imports – space available
  • Although vessels arriving late from NAM – standard service pattern is restored, calling Port Elizabeth then Durban and Cape Town
  • Cape Town terminal may vary between MPT and CTCT depending on availability, wind stoppages and crane availability. SI deadlines may move – and will provide as much lead time as possible.
  • 1-3 days waiting time in PECT, 2-4 days at Durban P1 and 3-5 days at MPT and CTCT Cape Town.
  • DALI Baltimore Bridge collision – the Helen Delich Bentley port of Baltimore is closed as an outcome of the tragic accident – and the port will be omitted from all services until it is deemed safe for passage through this area.
  • This will include AMEX. For cargo already on water, we will omit the port, and will discharge cargo set for Baltimore, in nearby ports and trucked or railed to destination.Exports will be routed via other load ports. More details to follow.
  • Amex - Port of Baltimore Closure
  • Cargo to and from Port of Baltimore | Maersk
Service
SAFARI (160)
Commentary
  • Exports – restricted export load moves with SPOT bookings closed to SAN FELIPE
  • Imports – full and SPOT bookings closed.
  • Improvement of westbound call into Port Louis with the service arriving on time with on time connection with Cape Town Express (163)
  • Eastbound Port Louis call after Durban DCT has been removed from service given Durban delays.
  • DCT berth delay 24-28 days – and expect to gain around 11-14 days in waiting time end of March due to the Chinese New Year blanking.
  • Hong Kong call has been added to proforma for Citrus season - first vessel to call Hong Kong will be SAN CHRISTOBAL 418N.
  • Terminal truck appointments remain constrained.
  • Vessels will sail at full service speed on departure from DURBAN to make up time in the schedule and further schedule recovery actions in FEA will ensure on time arrival back at DURBAN anchorage.
Service
Cape Town Express (163)
Commentary
  • Exports: Space available and SPOT bookings open ex Cape Town
  • Imports: Limited space – restricted moves at Port Louis
  • Maintaining Safari WB call before CPT Express at Port Louis to ensure all connections are made for Cape Town Imports
  • Due to 24 day waiting time in Durban, SAFARI will not call Port Louis EB.
  • Exports on Cape Town Express will connect at Port Louis onto M Express for connection to Far East destinations.
Service
MW1 and PROTEA (251)
Commentary
  • PROTEA Exports – full and SPOT bookings closed for next 4 voyages.
    PROTEA Imports – some limited space available.
  • MESAWA (MW1) Exports – space available and SPOT bookings open ex Cape Town (Service not calling Durban)
  • MW1 service delayed ex West Africa and with berthing delays at both Cape Town and Durban ports – service will continue to call Cape Town only. (Durban call reinstatement has been moved out to June).
  • Due to delays in West Africa, the Maersk IYO CAPE TOWN call has been cancelled.
  • PROTEA schedule heavily impacted by DURBAN delays (24 days at DCT) – service will call Durban each voyage and alternate between Port Elizabeth and Reunion to manage delays into Middle East and protect Jebel Ali and Durban arrival.

Export bookings.

  • We remain fully open for business.
  • Restrictions on the number of moves may be implemented to allow time for services to be restored. Empty moves will be reduced first.
  • Booking limits will be proactively set in response to anticipated productivity constraints. The SPOT platform will be adjusted to reflect these conditions. Rolling of bookings may still be necessary occasionally.
  • When rail and truck schedules are constrained, Maersk can to offer staging and transport solutions.

Imports on water, to be discharged and landed.

  • We remain fully open for business.
  • All imports will be discharged.
  • Due to constraints in rail and terminal trucking appointments, we can provide options for land transportation and staging as well as “back of port” solutions. Please reach out to your Sales and CX consultants for further information.

We thank you for your patience during this period and reassure you that we are reachable through all our usual communication channels.

We kindly request that you continue to pay attention to our customer advisories during this time. For any queries, kindly reach out to our Customer Experience teams and visit our website Maersk.com.

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