Durban, South Africa's container port, is grappling with severe congestion, and port officials anticipate it may take until February 2024 to clear the backlog. The crisis, attributed to years of underinvestment in equipment and maintenance, has led to over 60 vessels waiting offshore, impacting importers who may not receive merchandise in time for Christmas. Carriers, including Maersk and MSC, have imposed congestion fees, altered port calls, and adjusted rotations due to the situation. Transnet, the port operator, acknowledges the complexity of the problem, citing weather, staffing, and equipment failures. The World Bank's low port efficiency rankings for Durban add to the challenges. To address the backlog, Transnet is implementing measures like increasing staff and optimizing operations, but full recovery may extend into February 2024. Similar delays are reported at Richards Bay, a significant breakbulk port. Emergency meetings are being conducted to formulate plans to tackle the issues at both ports.

SOURCE: GOOGLE