Maersk is currently experiencing severe congestion at various transshipment ports, particularly in East Asia and Africa. These delays are affecting vessel berthing, departures, and cargo movement, leading to operational adjustments and increased shipping costs.

Key Affected Ports and Congestion Status

The following table outlines the congestion situation at major ports where Maersk is experiencing delays:

Port	Vessels in Port	Vessels Waiting	Key Issues
Mombasa, Kenya	High yard density	Equipment shortages	Delays in cargo movement due to space limitations
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania	9	20	Congestion due to vessel backlog
Shanghai, China	59	19	Heavy vessel traffic, affecting berthing times
Ningbo, China	49	29	Similar to Shanghai, causing schedule disruptions
Singapore	49	12	Increasing congestion, major transshipment delays
Chittagong, Bangladesh	11	13	Impacted by haulier strike, improvement expected

Operational Adjustments

Maersk is implementing several measures to mitigate the impact of congestion:

• Service Adjustments: The company is modifying port rotations and arrival schedules for its Mashariki and Mawingu services to manage delays.
• “Cut and Run” Strategy: To maintain schedule integrity, Maersk may employ cut and run tactics—departing from ports earlier than planned to meet transshipment deadlines.
• Cargo Prioritization: Delays in import cargo discharge may occur, with Maersk prioritizing urgent shipments on the next available vessels.

External Factors Influencing Congestion

• A recent haulier strike in Bangladesh led to severe congestion at Chittagong. With the strike now over, gradual improvements are expected.
• The increasing use of intraregional transshipment services is exacerbating congestion at key hubs like Singapore, prompting discussions on shifting cargo to alternative ports like Tanjung Pelepas and Port Klang.

Market Implications

• Fluctuating Freight Rates: Congestion-driven delays are leading to shipping rate volatility as carriers adjust their pricing models.
• Capacity Constraints: Limited space on vessels and at transshipment hubs may force businesses to plan for longer lead times and higher costs.

Conclusion

Maersk is facing considerable challenges due to congestion at major global ports, forcing operational changes and service modifications. While some relief may come from alternative routing and capacity adjustments, businesses relying on Maersk’s services should prepare for continued disruptions in the near term.