Maersk: bottlenecks due to bad weather in Europe and disturbances in the Red Sea

In a recent client update, A.P. Moller-Maersk highlighted the adverse impacts of weather disruptions in northern European ports and the rerouting of ships away from the Red Sea.

The company cited bottlenecks at container receiving berths due to these factors. Vessels were redirected from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to circumvent the Suez Canal, opting for the Cape of Good Hope route around Africa. This strategic shift was prompted by attacks from the Houthi group in Yemen.

Maersk acknowledged that winter storms and recent holiday-related port closures in northern Europe further compounded the challenges, resulting in high container berth density. The company urged customers to expedite the receipt of shipments post-unloading to enhance traffic fluidity.

Maersk’s CEO acknowledged that disruptions to global shipping traffic due to Red Sea attacks were likely to persist for a few months.

While expressing hope for a sustainable solution, the company advised customers to brace for ongoing complexities in the region and significant disruptions to the global network. Maersk is providing clients with the option to convert some shipments from sea freight to air freight at ports in Oman and the UAE for air transport to Europe or the United States.