To ensure our customers are kept informed during this period of high operational volatility, here is our latest update on conditions across the terminals and mitigating actions being taken to address the delays on our services.

  • South African terminal performance remains challenged. Equipment downtime – quay and yard – is the leading cause reducing productivity and driving port congestion. DCT is the major terminal bottleneck with waiting time at +3-4 days. Gate appointments are highly constrained.
  • Dry equipment remains tight in Cape Town and Johannesburg
  • All services have fully reopened for EXPORT Bookings – no constraints
  • Civil unrest Mozambique – Maputo and Beira Ports remain fully operational. N4 border crossing Lebombo closed due to violent action. Long truck queues at ZA border
  • Expiry of Congestion Fee Destination (CFD) for Far East Asia to Durban & Cape Town South Africa. Current USD 200/400 will expire from 08th November – new rate USD 0
  • West Coast Canada ports strike

Ports and Terminals Situation

Terminal Commentary
Terminal
Cape Town CTCT
Commentary
  • Waiting time is at 0-2 days - 7 ex 8 STS operational.
  • Some wind stoppages (South Easter) - Productivity above target.
Terminal
Cape Town MPT
Commentary
  • 0 days waiting time
  • Some wind stoppages (South Easter)
  • 3 MHC operational
  • Productivity below target.
Terminal
Port Elizabeth PECT
Commentary
  • 0-1 days delay
  • 1 ex 2 STS operational, Crane 3 under repair for next 4 weeks.
  • 1x MHC operational.
  • Productivity above target.
Terminal
Port Elizabeth COE
Commentary
  • 1-3 days waiting time- Delays due to the past week’s bad weather.
  • Waiting time will decrease to 2-3 days in week 46.
  • 6 ex 8 STS cranes operational
  • Productivity well below target.
Terminal
Durban DCT Pier 2
Commentary
  • 3-4 days waiting time.
  • Productivity remains below target.
  • 11 STS operational
Terminal
Commentary
  • Persistent equipment breakdowns and reduced straddle carriers (SC) operational (47)
  • Terminal recovery expected in 2nd quarter of 2025 due to equipment reliability and availability.
Terminal
Durban Pier 1
Commentary
  • Waiting time is 3-4 days.
  • 5 STS operational.
  • Productivity is below target.
Terminal
Port Louis (Mauritius)
Commentary
  • Waiting time is 3-5 days.
  • Low productivity – equipment and labour (Political unrest – Mauritius elections)
  • Move count restrictions
  • Strong wind gusts are expected.
  • Productivity is below target.
Terminal
Namibia (Walvis Bay)
Commentary
  • 1-2 days waiting time.
  • Productivity on target.
  • 3 ex 4 STS operational
Terminal
Mozambique (Maputo)
Commentary
  • 3-4 days waiting time.
  • Productivity below target.
  • 3x MHC, 2 fully operational, 1x MHC under maintenance.
  • Port remains fully operational despite civil unrest (disputed elections).
  • N4 border crossing Lebombo closed due to violent action. Long truck queues at ZA border
Terminal
Mozambique (Beira)
Commentary
  • 9-10 days waiting time
  • Productivity below target.
  • 4x STS operational.
  • Port remains fully operational despite political unrest.
Terminal
Rail DUR to JNB (City Deep and GLO Denver)
Commentary
  • Fully operational
Terminal
Rail JNB (City Deep and GLO Denver) to DUR
Commentary
  • Fully operational
Terminal Commentary
Terminal
Depots
Commentary
Terminal
Equipment
Commentary
  • Cape Town – dry equipment supply constraints. Port omissions have reduced flow of imports.
  • 20GP 40GP 40HC equipment release prioritised to vessel stack opening.
  • 20GP equipment resupply and improved schedule reliability expected is improving dry equipment position.
  • Johannesburg – very tight 20GP position

Vessel Operations

We will minimise delays through network actions and contingencies to compensate for 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 SPOT bookings open – and NO restrictions on 20GP and DG.
  • Imports: space available SPOT bookings open.
  • COEGA - Some port congestion and bad weather. Expect heavy delays, 0+3 days delays on future vessels. Vessels arriving on time, port congestion and weather causing delays in the line-up
    Santa Teresa/244S Delay into SA
  • DURBAN P1 - Weather and equipment down time. Waiting time has reduced however still high preventing full recovery
  • CAPE TOWN – Productivity has improved however expect consistent wind stoppage (South Easter Season)
    Santa Rita Cape Town Northbound Call Re-instated
Service
AMEX (040)
Commentary
  • Exports: space available SPOT bookings open. Imports: space available SPOT bookings open
  • DURBAN P1 waiting time is 6-7 days. Vessels not berthing in window. Weather delays following from COEGA
  • PECT /COEGA (NCT) Vessels are arriving with minimal delay into SAF. High waiting time in Durban causing delays.
  • CAPE TOWN CTCT - Due to upstream delays and bad weather, expect delays. Vessels will remain at CTCT and will call CTMPT ad hoc. South Easter windy season has started – schedule will be closely monitored to maintain weekly schedule.
Service
SAFARI (160)
Commentary
  • Exports: space available SPOT bookings open.
  • Imports: very limited space
  • DURBAN DCT - Current berth delay is 3 days
  • PORT LOUIS WB call – Waiting time is at 4 days impacted by reduced productivity
Service
Cape Town Express (163)
Commentary
  • Exports: Space available and SPOT bookings open ex Cape Town to FEA
  • Imports: Space available and SPOT bookings ex PORT LOUIS
  • Port Louis waiting time is at 4-5 days. New vessels phase in: Gardiner and Maersk Cap Carmel
  • Cape Town – despite delays at Port Louis, there is sufficient buffer to make Cape Town window. Maersk Newark and Maersk Nansha will call ZACPT07 for discharge call only
Service
MW1 and PROTEA (251)
Commentary
  • PROTEA Exports: Space available and SPOT bookings open
  • PROTEA Imports: Limited space open from week 45 CMA CGM ANTONIO
  • MW1 Exports: space available SPOT booking open ex CPT and PLZ
  • PROTEA - schedule improving with waiting time down to 4-5 days atPier 2 k
  • MW1 - service experiencing some delays ex West Africa and with berthing delays at both Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, port omissions may be required to recover schedule and onward Middle East connections

Export bookings.

  • Open for business on all services – no restrictions.
  • Maersk can to offer staging and transport solutions, to counter constraints in rail and truck modes.

Imports

  • Open for business – with some restrictions SAFARI and PROTEA imports.
  • Removal of Congestion Surcharge Fee (USD 200/400) from 08th November
    Expiry of Congestion Fee Destination (CFD) for Far East Asia to Durban & Cape Town South Africa
  • With constraints at Durban DCT and P1 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 advisors for further information.
  • To counter potential import delays – we can offer products to mitigate this risk: -
    • Free time Extension a discounted free time product that may be purchased as late as ETA +1 day.
    • Consignee Free time Extension Product. This innovative feature allows purchase of additional discounted free time directly when processing an SSDO online.

https://www.maersk.com/transportation-services/ocean- transport/freetime- extension
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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