Delays of 14 days expected at Yantian port due to tighter Covid controls

The Covid-19 situation has resulted in Guangdong province with tighter controls as mass testing in regional capital Guangzhou reveals more cases of the Delta variant are causing serious delays are normally highly efficient South China ports.

Read the latest update - Delays and congestion worsen at South China ports

The restrictions are causing delays and congestion at Yantian, Shekou and Nansha ports.

“The situation continues to deteriorate as more positive Covid cases have been confirmed in Shenzhen where Yantian port and Shekou port are located and in Guangzhou where Nansha port is located,” Maersk said in a customer advisory.

The restrictions have particularly impacted operations at Yantian International Container Terminal (YICT) where delays have growing since late May.

“Yantian International Container Terminal (YICT) yard density remains elevated with disinfection and quarantine measures being continuously implemented by local authorities to prevent the spread of Covid-19. We expect continued terminal congestion and vessel delays upwards of 14 days in the coming week,” Maersk said.

As a result of the delays and congestion lines are either omitting or diverting calls at Yantian and other South China Ports.

Maersk listed a total of 34 vessels impacted the congestion, while Ocean Network Express (ONE) listed 29 calls in South China by THE Alliance that had been impacted, and OOCL listed 29 vessels omitting calls in Shekou and Yantian.

Related:Lines omit Yantian port calls over Covid-19 measures congestion

The delays in South China add to lines scheduling woes as they continue to grapple with long running US West Coast congestion and equipment shortages.