Ports still to face full impact of COVID-19

67 global ports contributed to the data gathered for the first weekly edition of IAPH’s World Ports Sustainability Programme (WPSP) barometer, part of WPSP’s new COVID-19 (coronavirus) task force and information portal. The barometer found that alongside the steady cargo volumes, over 40% of the ports have experienced moderate (minus 5% to 25%) and in some ports even significant decreases (in excess of a 25% drop) in the number of calls of container and other cargo vessels.

“Given the tsunami of announced blank sailings in recent weeks, many ports are yet to experience the full impact of the current crisis on container volumes,” said professor Theo Notteboom ((Shanghai Maritime University, Ghent University and University of Antwerp), who compiled the Barometer with professor Thanos Pallis (University of the Aegean and Universidad de Los Andes).

About 22% of the ports report delays (6-24 hours) or heavy delays (> 24 hours) in cross-border road transportation. One port even indicates cross-border trucking has been discontinued. Overall, 43% of respondents face delays in cross-border trucking activities. For trucks arriving or leaving the port, this figure amounts to 39%, rather evenly split between minor delays (less than 6 hours) and more severe disruptions. Some ports reported that this situation is actually leading to a renewed interest in rail services.

35% of the ports report extra restrictions in the last week on all incoming passenger vessels compared to 16% for all container vessels and 14% for all other cargo vessels.

Dockworker availability has been impacted but not hampering operations.