Yantian operations start improving, but delays of over 16 days remain

Yantian International Container Terminal’s (YICT) west terminal re-opened on 10 June having been closed since 21 May for disinfection and quarantine following a Covid-19 outbreak.

“This will ease congestion, however, disruption to sailing schedules and equipment availability is expected to last several weeks. East terminal is currently working around 50% normal capacity,” Maersk said in an Asia-Pacific market update.

In a separate customer advisory the Copenhagen-headquartered shipping line said, “After a six-day stop on export containers, the Yantian Port Authorities have announced that productivity is gradually set to increase as more workers return and more berths reopen.”

This it said was having a positive impact on gate activity which was expected to return to normal soon, however, berthing delays of 16 days and upwards continue. This is set to impact the schedules of major shipping lines for several weeks to come. Maersk said that 19 of its mainline services were impacted for the remainder of June with many omitting Yantian.

Earlier this week Vincent Clerc, AP Moller-Maersk’s CEO of Ocean & Logistics, warned that the impact from congestion and delays at Yantian would be much larger on its business that the Ever Given blocking the Suez Canal for six days in March this year.

Related:Maersk warns Yantian port congestion a ‘much bigger disruption’ than Suez Canal closure