Yantian Covid closure creating major box backlog and ocean omissions

Reports coming in from China demonstrate the scale of disruption caused by the restriction of services and temporary closure of Chinese port Yantian International Container Terminal (YICT).

Following a Covid-19 outbreak in the area that included some port personnel, YICT initially closed off a number of operational areas for disinfection but was later forced to close the terminal entirely as it battled both the virus and escalating yard occupancy/congestion.

As a result huge traffic jams have built up from the port into Yantian itself leading to a trucking shortage as container vehicles remain stuck at or around YICT.

To manage the situation Yantian port authorities have implemented the following protocols, which indicate reduced services could extend as far as June 6th:

• During 22:00 on May 25th to 23:59 on May 30th, YICT will stop accepting export (full) containers to be gated in.
• From 00:00 on May 31, YICT will start to accept full containers, but only for vessel ETA – 4days. (i.e., within four days of the ship’s expected arrival date). The measure will be implemented from May 28 to June 6.

As a result, some shipping lines have been forced to delay services or omit YICT from their rotations, causing further disruptions to already stretched global supply chains. Services confirmed as affected include:

CMA CGM:
• Service: Columbus JAX
Vessel(s): CMA CGM A. Lincoln (voyage: OTUIXS1MA), APL Dublin (voyage: OTUHJE1MA)
• Service: Mediterranean Club Express 1
Vessel: CMA CGM Aquila (voyage: OME9BW1MA)
• Service: South East Asia Service
Vessel(s): Navios Dedication (voyage: OKRJ9S1MA), Jonathan Swift (voyage: OKRJDS1MA)
• Service: Asia South America East Coast 1
Vessel(s): Seamax Niantic (voyage: OAA8KE1MA), CMA CGM Jacques Junior (voyage OAA97W1MA)
• Service: French Asia Line 1
Vessel: APL Raffles (voyage: OFL9FW1MA)
• Service: Russia Far East Express
Vessel: Collette (voyage: OW8JN1MA)

Ocean Alliance:
• Services: Aeu1/Ne1/Fal5
Vessel: COSCO SHIPPING GALAXY (voyage: 010W)
Vessel: COSCO GLORY (voyage: 060W)

We will continue to monitor the situation and update customers accordingly. Customers concerned their cargoes may be impacted should contact their Customer Development Manager for updates. Don’t forget that we are also able to offer a range of outstanding airfreight services to complement your existing ocean / land supply chain solutions.

For more information please call us on 01375 414 331 or email info@ugroup.co.uk