Recent data from Beacon has indicated a sharp rise in container dwell times across ports in North and South America and Europe in May.
Kingston, Jamaica, recorded the highest dwell time, with containers staying over 12 days, highlighting significant yard fluidity issues.
This trend underscores broader concerns about declining cargo throughput efficiency in the region.
In Asia, Bangladesh continued to face severe operational delays, with vessels waiting more than 71 hours to berth due to prolonged berth operations and persistent anchorage congestion.
This marks the second consecutive month the port has ranked among the least efficient globally.
In South America, Colón (Panama) and Cartagena (Colombia) emerged as congestion points, not due to vessel delays offshore but due to slow yard movements.
Average container dwell times exceeded 9 and 8.5 days, respectively.
In Africa, Durban posted the longest average berth stay in May at 3.8 days, while containers in Mombasa remained in port for over 4.5 days, raising concerns about bottlenecks in East Africa’s primary trade hub.
Optimism remains around South Africa’s ongoing port reforms under Transnet’s recovery plan.
Taipei, in contrast, reported the shortest ship turnaround time globally, averaging just 0.38 days at berth.
The Beacon analytics team stated: “We are seeing a shift in delay patterns where the issue is no longer just ships waiting at sea, but terminals struggling to move boxes off the yard.
That is where the bottleneck now lives.”‘
Recently, container ports in Northern Europe faced their most sustained operational crisis since the pandemic, with congestion and delays escalating across key gateways including Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg,
and Bremerhaven.
The new class of Maersk vessels will enter service soon
Copenhagen, Denmark-A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk) has named the first vessel in a series of 17,480 TEU vessels equipped with dual-fuel methanol propulsion.
The naming event took place on 18 June at Hyundai Heavy Industries’ (HHI) yard in Ulsan, South Korea.
The vessel, Berlin Mærsk, is the 14th dual-fuel newbuild entering the Maersk fleet, and it will be followed by additional five sister vessels in this new class of container ships.
With the launch of the Berlin Mærsk class, they continue to build an ocean toolkit adaptable to multiple fuel pathways.
Fleet renewal is essential for maintaining their competitive edge in ocean shipping, and it serves as a cornerstone of our commitment to decarbonisation.
On 7 July, Berlin Mærsk will make its first port call in Shanghai, where it will enter service on Maersk’s AE3 service connecting Eastern Asia with Northern Europe.
The vessel’s design closely resembles that of the previous Ane Mærsk class, from which Maersk has received a total of 12 dual-fuel vessels, all built by HHI.
The only significant difference is the wider beam, which allows Berlin Mærsk to carry more containers.
The increased capacity also makes it the largest dual-fuel ship to date to join the Maersk fleet.
All six vessels in the series are being built by HHI with delivery in 2025.
They will sail under the Danish flag.
Japan delivers new future fuel-ready box ship to ONE
IMABARI Shipbuilding, one of the biggest vessel construction players in Japan, has marked the delivery of a 13,000 TEU futureproof containership, which was built for Singapore-based shipping (ONE).
The ONE Sapphire was handed over on June 12 during a ceremony held at Imabari Shipbuilding’s Marugame yard in Kagawa, Japan, reports Rotterdam’s Offshore Energy.
The box ship features an overall length of 335.94 meters, a width of 51 meters and a depth of 30.1 meters.
According to Imabari Shipbuilding, the 140,233 GT newbuild was designed for future conversion to run on methanol and ammonia.
What is more, the vessel is said to be ready to be installed with carbon capture equipment.
ONE Sapphire is also described as having been engineered with energy/fuel efficiency in mind.
To this end, it was reportedly outfitted with a suite of solutions, including energy-saving devices and twisted rudders.
The unit was also equipped with a hybrid exhaust gas cleaning system (EGCS) as well as an exhaust gas recirculation system (EGR).
Other environmental conservation measures include a ballast water treatment system and an inventory list based on the Hong Kong International Convention for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships (other- wise known as the Hong Kong Convention).
As a result, ONE Sapphire is anticipated to achieve a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of around 60 percent, officials from Imabari Shipbuilding have shared.
Government's top priority is to turn HK into an international maritime hub
THE Hong Kong government has appointed veteran lawyer and Executive Councillor Moses Cheng as chairman of the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board for a three-year term effective on July 1.
The board has been set up to assist the government in formulating maritime policies and strategies and will get funding and dedicated staff, according to RTHK News.
Its key focus will be enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international maritime centre, which is recognised as crucial for the region’s economic development.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said in a statement that enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international maritime centre is the government’s top priority.
“The establishment of the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board is a key step in this institutional reform,” she said.
Among the appointed members are the former president of the Baltic and International Maritime Council, Sabrina Chao; a member of the social development expert group of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, Edward Liu; Hong Kong Baptist University professor, Billy Mak; Orient Overseas chief financial officer, Alan Tung and transport sector lawmaker, Frankie Yick.
Tariff hike of 30pc warned for Port Klang
THE Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has warned that the upcoming tariff hike at Port Klang could lead to a surge in container handling and storage charges.
FMM president Soh Thian Lai said the revised tariff structure of 30 percent, to be imposed from July 1, could see an increase of between 197 percent and 243 percent, the Borneo Post reported.
Such an increase will pose a significant burden on manufacturers already facing cost pressures from global and domestic headwinds.
“This comes at a time when industries are already contending with unresolved external shocks, including the ongoing US tariff threats on Malaysian exports, the expansion of the sales and service tax, and a scheduled restructuring of electricity tariffs.
“The convergence of these cost pressures will deliver a heavy blow to manufacturers and exporters at a critical juncture in Malaysia’s economic recovery, further eroding the country’s export competitiveness,” Mr Soh was quoted as saying.
In April, transport minister Loke Siew Fook said the then 30 percent increase in port tariffs would be implemented in phases over a three-year period.
Fujairah Terminals signs maritime growth deal
Fujairah Terminals, a subsidiary of AD Ports Group (AD Ports), has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Fujairah Free Zone Authority (FFZA).
By leveraging the unique strengths of both Fujairah Terminals and the FFZA, the MoU aims to attract further investment, streamline operations, and promote sustainable growth within Fujairah’s maritime ecosystem.
Furthermore, the MoU aims to explore collaboration that would encompass the exchange of statistical data, business forecasts, and other information regarding container movement by road and sea, as well as joint participation in events and road shows.
The agreement also sets the ground for Fujairah Terminals and Fujairah Free Zone Authority to create a seamless and efficient environment that caters to the evolving needs of global shipping lines, logistics providers, and maritime service companies, reported AD Ports.
Captain Mohamed Al Yahyaei, CEO of Fujairah Terminals, said: “Fujairah Terminals is strategically located to serve as the premier gateway to the Indian Subcontinent, African trade lanes, and global markets.
“This MoU paves the way to further collaboration with the Fujairah Free Zone Authority, that will unlock new growth opportunities, enhance service offerings, and deliver greater value to our customers and stakeholders, solidifying Fujairah’s position as a leading maritime hub.”
Mohamed Sharief Habib Al Awadhi, Director General, Fujairah Free Zone Authority, said: “The Fujairah Free Zone Authority plays a crucial role in attracting foreign investment and fostering a vibrant business community.
“This MoU with Fujairah Terminals, part of AD Ports Group, creates a powerful synergy, enabling us to offer a compelling value proposition to maritime businesses.
Together, we can enhance competitiveness, drive economic diversification, and strengthen Fujairah’s global maritime standing.”
Last week, AD Ports signed three Heads of Terms (HoTs) with the Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard Company (ASRY) for the provision of marine services in Bahrain to collaborate on strategic maritime and ports projects.