News Alert: Northern Europe and Mediterranean Port Delays
News
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May 5, 2025
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May. 5, 2025) – Significant delays currently affecting several major ports in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, which may impact the relocation of your employees.
Key hubs like Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Bremerhaven and Le Havre are experiencing serious congestion and operational challenges due to a mix of factors, including strikes, vessel phase-ins, severe weather and fully occupied container yards.
• At the port of Antwerp, a recent strike in Belgium halted operations for several days, resulting in a substantial backlog. Over 90 ships are currently waiting to enter or leave the port. Additionally, the port is nearly at full capacity, and there is a shortage of workers to maintain normal cargo movement speeds.
• Rotterdam is also facing extended wait times, with some ships experiencing delays of up to 5-6 days. The yard space is limited, and barge handling is taking longer than usual.
• Hamburg is encountering similar issues, with limited space, growing vessel queues, and ongoing construction and labor shortages further slowing down operations. A planned rail closure in July is expected to impact shipments by train as well.
• Bremerhaven is operating near full capacity, with approximately 30% of vessels waiting for berths. Inland transport is also being affected by rail issues near Hannover.
• Le Havre is also experiencing major delays due to fully occupied container yards and severe weather conditions, adding to the congestion.
The situation is further complicated by the ongoing phase-in of new carrier alliances, such as Gemini, MSC’s standalone operations and shifts within the Premier Alliance. These changes are putting additional pressure on already strained operations.
Looking ahead, we anticipate these delays to continue into June. To mitigate these challenges, we recommend the following actions:
• Review your current shipments and anticipate possible delays
• Inform your employees about the potential delays
• Maintain regular communication with your partners for updates
We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates to our clients and partners as they become available.