As you may be aware, Southampton Container Terminals UK Ltd (SCT) have ordered two gantry cranes for delivery in the first half of next year. These gantry cranes will have an outreach of 22 containers wide, thus ensuring the terminal is able to handle the latest and future generation of containerships. In order to operate these gantry cranes, civil engineering works are currently taking place to lay the required tracks and these works are expected to be completed by the end of August - early September.
While the civil engineering work is taking place, SCT will close one berth thus exacerbating the shortage of deep sea berths. In other words, the terminal is like the M25 , M1, or M62. In order to widen the motorways, one needs to close down a lane, adding to delays. Unlike the motorways where drivers can use alternative routes, we cannot switch our services to other terminals as the shortage of deep sea berths is affecting all ports in the UK and Continental Europe.
Over the past weeks we have had to make last minute changes to the European rotation of a number of ships; others have by-passed and we have been able to feeder cargo over to Rotterdam with our MV Harlingen. Others have had to cut their operations short and run, leaving cargo behind. We apologise for all the inconvenience caused by these operational changes.
We are pleased to report that, at this time, works are on schedule.
In the meantime, OOCL and the other Grand Alliance members have decided that our Asia Europe Route 4 (EU4) will temporarily omit Southampton while the civil engineering works last, in order to ease the demand for berths at SCT. Once the terminal is fully operational, normal EU4 service will resume.
In the meantime, we have put the following contingency plan in place:
- Inbound cargo from North China and South Korea will be stowed for Hamburg discharge and relayed to Southampton via our Route 2 (EU2) service. This routing will add 7 days to the transit time
- Outbound cargo from Southampton to Singapore, South East Asia and Kaohsiung will be accepted on our EU1, EU2 and/or EU3 services
- Outbound cargo from Southampton to Shanghai and Ningbo will be booked on our EU3 service
- Outbound cargo to North China and South Korea may be accepted with a transhipment in Singapore (transhipment permitted) and relayed via our EU4 service. The estimated transit time via Singapore to Busan is 33 days, to Dalian 35, to Xingang 36 and Qingdao 38
EU4 is expected to resume calling in Southampton in early-mid September, but this of course will be subject to on-time completion of the engineering works. We will keep you informed.
In closing, on behalf of all at OOCL, we sincerely apologise for the disruptions in the management of your supply chain resulting from berth congestion and the EU4 omission and thank you for your continued support during this 10 week period.
Should you have any questions pertaining to the above please do not hesitate to contact your Area Sales Manager or local Customer Service Centre.
