Port congestion is being blamed for the massive failure of liner ships to meet their scheduled berthing slot this year.
According to consultant Drewry’s “Container Shipper Insight” – a survey of global carrier schedule reliability – the proportion of on-time arrivals for containerships and multipurpose liner vessels fell well below 50% in the first quarter of 2007.
The proportion of vessels arriving one calendar day late was 23% during the quarter, while those turning up two days late accounted for a further 29%. The transatlantic trade fared worst with only 27% arriving on time in the quarter.
The consultant pinpoints port congestion,notably in Rotterdam,for the slide in liner schedule reliability. Other factors, such as slower running due to higher bunker costs and schedule disruptions, also affected reliability.
