Weekly Logistics Briefing Key logistics updates for the week (Week 1 of May 2024)

First large commercial ship departure in 33 days from Baltimore through limited channel. Port McHenry Limited Access Channel (LAC) is opened as a temporary solution to allow a limited number of commercial ships to pass through Baltimore Port and to provide ships with a chance to depart after the bridge collapse. The Balsa 94, which had been trapped for almost a month, departed through the LAC around 10 a.m. local time, and other ships departed about two hours apart. The port plans to focus on the salvage of the Dali by early May, and says it will be able to fully reopen the port by the end of May. LAC will be closed during salvage operation.

Houthi rebels resume attacks targeting Maersk and MSC ships in the Red Sea. On April 24, Houthi rebels claimed to have targeted two container ships, U.S.-flagged Maersk Yorktown and MSC Veracruz. Houthi rebels claim that U.S. warships are also included in the attack, and that MSC Veracruz is an Israeli ship. The U.S. military confirmed that it had intercepted a anti-ship ballistic missile fired from Yemen, which is believed to have been aimed at Maersk Yorktown. It is not confirmed that MSC ships or U.S. warships were targeted.

MSC, bypass ships linked to Israel from the Persian Gulf to other regions. After the Iranian army captured the MSC ARIES, the MSC decided to switch container ships linked to Israel from the Persian Gulf to other routes. When MSC JEWEL arrives at Jawaharlal Nehru Port on Monday, it will be relocated from there to Sikra route in Sentosa, Pacific Ocean. MSC ORION will unload cargo at Salalah Port in Oman on Sunday and skip calling at Abu Dhabi next Tuesday. MSC BERANGERE, MSC DARIA, MSC CALYPSO, and MSC AUDREY deployed in the Far East-Middle East Falcon service will also be changed from regular routes to other routes. MSC LEANNE and MSC RIFAYA are also in the Mediterranean Sea and will be deployed far from the Persian Gulf like other ships. The above ships are leased/owned by Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS), owned by Israeli tycoon Ethan Oper.

A cargo ship fire in the Dardanelles Strait recently halted maritime traffic. Fire originated in the engine room of 107 meter long ship, which was en route from Egypt to Bulgaria. The local maritime authorities responded that the vessel, named Ak Discovery, has been successfully extinguished and by closing the strait to prevent the fire from spreading to other ships and to ensure the safety of maritime operations in this busy waterway. Dardaneles Strait is a strategic waterway connecting the Marmara and Aegean seas. Traffic was expected to resume after the fire was fully extinguished and the area deemed safe.

A fire recently broke out at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria, forcing flights to be diverted from Wing E to Wing D in Terminal 1. A fire broke out on MMIA's E54 Bridge in the early hours of Thursday, disrupting normal airport activities. There were no reports of injuries or deaths resulting from the incident. Initially, it was suspected that sparks from an electrical device were the cause, but Authorities at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) are currently investigating the cause of the fire to prevent future occurrences and to assess the extent of the damage caused.

Border Force officers at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) are scheduled to go on strike from April 29 to May 2. Purpose of strike is to condemn the employee layoff plan. Border Force mainly performs passport screening when arriving at the airport. Public and commercial services (PCS) unions are expected to go on strike, claiming that about 250 of Britain's border force officers will lose their jobs at passport checkpoints. Due to the delay in passport screening, the scheduled arrival flight is delayed, and the scheduled departure flight is also expected to be delayed.

Recent heavy rains in Kenya have led to significant traffic disruptions across the country due to flooding, especially affecting roads and bridges. The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has issued warnings for various roads, including parts of the Thika Superhighway and the bridge linking Kitengela to Mombasa along the Namanga road. The flooding has made these and other areas hazardous, prompting advisories for motorists to use alternative routes or wait until water levels recede.

Railway and public transportation unions are scheduled to strike across Italy on April 26. The Confail Faisa labor union demands higher salaries and improved safety measures for affiliates. Strikes are mainly carried out for public transportation such as buses, subways, and trams, but railroads are also included. It is necessary to check whether there is a disruption in the rail transport in Italy. Expected railway strike area are Rome, Lazio, and Naples.

In some parts of southern China, bad weather is expected to continue until at least May 1, and the most rain is expected from April 24-26 and 28-30. Heavy rains from April 12 have caused floods across southern China. On April 20, the Beijiang River flooded. Authorities evacuated more than 82,500 residents across Guangdong Province, including about 45,000 in Qingyuan. Flights continue to be suspended at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX), Zhuhai International Airport (ZUH), and Foshan Shadi Airport (FUO). Guangzhou Railway suspended at least 126 trains April 20-21 and 17 trains from April 22. Qingyuan and Shaoguan cities also banned ships from traveling through several rivers, including the Bei and Dong rivers.

As of April 20, Ecuador's power supply failure continues and is expected to continue over the next few weeks. On April 19, President Daniel Novoa declared a 60-day state of emergency to cope with the crisis, and additional security personnel will be deployed to guard hydroelectric power plants. Ecuador suspended schools and public/private operations on April 18 and 19 to preserve power. Ecuador has been experiencing power outages for hours every day since mid-April, due to a lack of water supply to hydroelectric power plants and a suspension of power supply from Colombia. Airport / port facilities have not been suspended so far, but mandatory holiday measures or measures to extend the power outage period may be implemented. In addition, essential services such as gas stations can be suspended and security threats increase, which is expected to affect land transportation.