Covid-hit Yantian operating at 30% capacity
More boxships give port a miss due to worsening Coronavirus outbreak.
By Marc Allen
A fresh outbreak of Coronavirus at the port of Yantian has prompted major operators to omit calls to the busy Chinese haven. Work restrictions and staff shortages mean that the port is only operating at 30% capacity, with imports restricted or suspended entirely.
AP Moller-Maersk and Ocean Network Express have both warned of delays of up to 16 days and there are currently over 50 vessels waiting to dock at the Outer Pearl River Delta which leads to the ports of Yantian, Shekou and Nansha.
“As more cargoes are diverted to Nansha and epidemic prevention measures for Covid-19 are also implemented in Guangzhou, we see traffic congestion and it could take five hours for empty container pick-up or laden container gate-in,” Maersk said in its advisory on Thursday.
