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The Loadstar reported this week that congestion in European ports has continued to worsen, with workforce constraints exceeding forecasts in Bremerhaven, leaving stakeholders with very limited options. Jannik Amstutz, senior manager of ocean freight at Flexport, noted that ports are experiencing an average of five to six days of congestion, depending on the destination. The situation is exacerbated by low Rhine water levels due to insufficient rainfall, which limits the use of barges, particularly from Antwerp and Rotterdam.

Danish carrier Maersk has highlighted a sharp and unexpected decline in labour availability in Bremerhaven during recent holidays, which has surpassed seasonal forecasts. With additional holidays approaching, further workforce constraints are anticipated. To mitigate disruption, Maersk has extended its contingency measures until the end of May, when terminal productivity is expected to return to normal. These measures include temporarily extending one of their services from Bremerhaven to Nordic terminals.

Bremerhaven is a crucial transhipment hub in the Gemini network, connecting Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd’s deep-sea services with their Baltic and Scandinavian shuttles. For European importers, finding alternative ports to unload goods is challenging. While some ports experience less congestion, the impact remains significant, and the benefits of using Mediterranean ports to avoid congestion in North Europe have diminished due to the Red Sea situation.

Source: The Loadstar