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. Performance across South African terminals are showing some limited signs of improvement. Severe and sustained wind conditions have set back Cape Town’s recovery. At DCT our last SAFARI caller, the CCNI ANGOL achieved its best productivity, meeting target with 5 gantries deployed. We need to see this performance consistently week on week. Waiting time stubbornly remains at 3+ weeks for Durban terminals.

Ports and Terminals Situation

Terminal Commentary
Terminal
Cape Town CTCT
Commentary
  • Waiting time at 2-3 days – severe wind over the weekend see waiting time push out a further 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
  • 2-3 days delay
  • Low productivity due to intermittent MHC (mobile harbour cranes) breakdowns – although some improvement this week close to target.
  • Reefer-plug and productivity constraints causing a back log in reefer stacking - flow exceeding plug capacity requiring split and extended stacks.
Terminal
Port Elizabeth PECT
Commentary
  • 0-1 day waiting time – some wind delays forecast over weekend.
  • 2x STS (ship to shore) and 1x MHC operational are fully operational.
  • Productivity meeting target rates
Terminal
Port Elizabeth NCT
Commentary
  • 3-4 days waiting time.
  • Restoration of 3 berth operation
  • All 8 cranes operational.
  • Full recovery impacted by wind delays
Terminal
Durban DCT Pier 2
Commentary
  • Some signs of improvement – with a small drop in waiting time to 21-25-days (from 28 days)
  • Productivity, however, remains well below target.
  • STS breakdown and straddle carriers’ reliability and availability remain compromised (64 straddles available vs optimal 97 – an improvement on last week)
  • 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 months
Terminal
Durban Pier 1
Commentary
  • No change in waiting time at 4-5 days.
  • 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
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 impacted by current high winds.
  • MEHUIN currently alongside 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.
  • Citrus Season 2024 restrictions will be implemented from ONE REASSURANCE 241N (Dur 02nd May). Restrictions include SPOT Closed 20FT bookings; No Charcoal acceptance, No IMO 2.1 and 3
  • We delighted to announce for Citrus season 2024 our dedicated inland and ocean offering from the Eastern Cape load port of Gqeberha to North and South Europe – the FRUIT BRIDGE service.
  • With a network of 7 vessels each with approximately 450 plugs, Maersk will offer weekly coverage starting in May 2024.
  • Maersk – Seasonal Service Announcement
Service
AMEX (040)
Commentary
  • Exports – SPOT bookings open.
  • Imports – space available
  • Vessels arriving late from NAM and delays in South African ports leading to port swaps and expect contingencies on case-by-case basis.
  • MAERSK VISBY will call Durban first then Port Elizabeth
  • 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.
  • MSC LORENA will call CTCT iso MPT – eta 11th April.
  • 1-3 days waiting time in PECT, 5 days at Durban P1 and 3-5 days at MPT and CTCT Cape Town.

DALI Baltimore Bridge collision update: -

  • Baltimore port omitted from AMEX schedule through April and May
  • Baltimore bookings on water – containers will discharge and shipment complete NEWARK. Baltimore CY and SD on-carriage options from NEWARK are available (at a cost).
  • Baltimore bookings not yet loaded – free COD to alternate USEC POD.
  • Please consult customer Maersk.com Cargo to and from Port of Baltimore | Maersk and your CX consultant for details
Service
SAFARI (160)
Commentary
  • Exports – restricted export load moves with SPOT bookings closed to SAN FELIPE
  • Imports – full and SPOT bookings closed.
  • DCT berth delay 25 days.
  • SAFARI waiting time will reduce to 19 days by eta of CCNI ARIUCO due to the Chinese New Year voyage 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 (limited opening from AS CHRISTINA.
  • 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).
  • MW1 MAERSK EUPHRATES – held alongside at MPT to complete loading (delayed inbound from West Africa and wind delays in CPT. Following MW1 LEONIDIO will by-pass CPT and sail straight to Middle East. Customer Advisory: Leonidio – Cape Town- Omission
  • PROTEA schedule heavily impacted by DURBAN delays (up to 31 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.
  • B3A HALSTED making split Durban call – calling Point Terminal to perform discharge only and thereafter shift to DCT to perform the loading. Customer Advisory: B3A HALSTED 412N- Terminal Change- Split Call

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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