A dockworker strike in South Africa that has been running in Durban and Cape Town since October 6th has led carriers to skip South Africa calls or to divert ships to other ports in Southern Africa.
Durban handles about 65% of South Africa’s total container volume.
State-owned terminal operator Transnet said two teams were working at Durban’s Pier 1 container terminal, although all landside operations had been suspended. As a result of the strike no work was taking place at the Pier 2 terminal
“Whilst the parties have not settled on this offer, engagements are ongoing,” Transnet said.
Maersk said last week that it would drop calls at Durban and Cape Town on several joint sailings with other carriers, including Cosco and CMA CGM on services linking South Africa with Europe, Asia, and the east coast of South America. Maersk said in a note to clients that “all terminals and rail are effectively at an operational standstill. We have vessels alongside with containers still to be discharged that are heavily delayed and, with minimal gate and rail activity, we will not be able to deliver sold transit times and delivery dates.” Maersk said that further omissions at Durban and Cape Town were possible, depending on how long the strike continued. Maersk has also has stopped all bookings of dry export
containers from South African ports until the strike is over.
CMA CGM said that the 4,298 teu CMA CGM Jamaica (IMO 9326770) will skip both Cape Town and Durban on the Middle East-India-West Africa service, operated with Maersk, and proceed directly to Jebel Ali.
Hapag-Lloyd said that the 8,400-teu Northern Juvenile (IMO 9450349), serving its Asia-West Africa service would skip Cape Town, while the 2,824 teu AS Cypria (IMO 9315812), on the Middle East-India-Africa Express service, would leave out Durban. The 4,432-teu Bear Mountain Bridge (IMO 9463293) will substitute Durban for Cape Town on the South Africa-Asia Express 2 service that is operated in conjunction with Ocean Network Express
(ONE).
Hapag-Lloyd said four vessels were berthed or at anchorage in Durban but that only two ships were being worked, while none of the three ships at Cape Town or one at Coega were being worked.
2006-built, Malta-flagged, 41,899 gt CMA CGM Jamaica is owned by Global Ship Lease 50 LLC care of manager Conchart Commercial Inc of Athens, Greece. ISM manager is Technomar Shipping Inc-Lib of Athens, Greece. It is entered with UK Club on behalf of Global Ship Lease LLC. As of October 20th it was en route from Walvis Bay, Namibia, to Fujairah, UAE.
2009-built, Portugal-flagged, 94,419 gt Northern Juvenile is owned by VC N Juvenile Shipping GmbH care of manager V Ships (Hamburg) of Hamburg, Germany. It is entered with London Club on behalf of Northern Juvenile Shipping Corp. As of October 17th it was underway from Luanda, Angola, to Singapore.
2006-built, Portugal-flagged, 28,592 gt AS Cypria is owned by AS Cypria Opco BV care of manager Contchart BV of Rhoon, Netherlands. ISM manager is Wilhelmsen Ahrenkiel Shipping of Hamburg, Germany. It is entered with Gard on behalf of AS Cypria OpCo BV. As of October 18th AS Cypria was en route from Lagos, Nigeria to Fujairah, UAE.
2011-built, Panama-flagged, 44,234 gt Bear Mountain Ridge is owned by G.O.D Shipping SA care of manager Doun Kisen Co Ltd of Imabari, Japan. ISM manager is Korea Marinecraft Co Ltd of Busan, South Korea. It is entered with Gard AS on behalf of G.O.D Shipping SA. As of October 17th the vessel was en route from Durban, South Africa, to Singapore.
