Harbour Report: Durban and International Overview

The Durban port is experiencing delays due to ongoing dredging and equipment failures. The waiting time for vessels who are in queue to load/unload increased last week, reflecting the intensifying congestion.

Globally, the shipping industry continues to grapple with extended rotational delays. In South Africa, the delays are particularly evident, with an additional 14 days for Durban Pier 2, five days for Pier 1, and three days for Cape Town. The container vessel rotation from the Far East to North Europe now takes 108 days, eight days longer than during the pandemic. The number of ports skipped per rotation has risen to approximately 0.5, affecting around seven ports per rotation. Although schedule reliability has decreased, the average delay for late arrivals has slightly improved to 4.74 days.

Global port congestion remains critical, with Singapore emerging as a new hotspot. The average delay in April 2024 was 0.40 days higher year-over-year, intensifying the challenges faced by the overstretched container market.

In conclusion, as the Durban port navigates its challenges, it continues to face issues that are not entirely new or out of the ordinary. Meanwhile, the broader shipping industry continues to face significant hurdles.

SOURCE: Turners Shipping- Cargo Movement Update #188