European Ports Subject To Delays Due To Strikes And Congestion

Several ports in Northern Europe have been experiencing delays during recent times, which has been largely caused by industrial action or ongoing congestion issues.

Below is a summary of some of the most notable issues:

Rotterdam - A strike last weekend resulted in a number of voyages skipping the port at late notice, and it seems likely that further action will follow. The port is braced for ongoing disruption due to a port automation dispute between workers and one of its terminal operators.

The union are expected to continue with actions varying from slowdowns to full strikes and, according to the operator, they may not be announced in advance, which makes predicting or planning for disruption very challenging.

Le Havre - As France's largest container port, Le Havre remains at the centre of a series of February strikes that have already started over pension reforms. Four-hour stoppages continue today, along with February 20th and 24th.

A full three-day strike is then set to close the port between February 26th and 28th.

Bremerhaven - The German port is currently experiencing congestion and vessels are waiting for up to three days to unload.

Felixstowe - Perhaps the Northern European port that has been most affected by congestion during the past twelve months. Vessel waiting times were recently reported as being between 10 and 20 days.

While delays at European ports may not directly impact the UK, they do create a knock-on effect to vessel delays on some loops, depending on the rotation.

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