Weekly Logistics Briefing Key logistics updates for the week (Week 4 of December 2023)

The Danish company announced Sunday that it would resume shipments in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden following the establishment of a new US-led security operation to safeguard the area. Operation Prosperity Guardian will once again allow shipping vessels to pass through the area, Maersk said in a statement, in what it called “most welcome news for the entire industry and indeed the functionality of global trade.” In its Sunday statement, the firm said it was preparing its first vessels to resume transit through the Red Sea “as soon as operationally possible.” “Maersk will not hesitate to reevaluate the situation and once again initiate diversion plans if we deem it necessary for the safety of our seafarers,” the company said, adding that it would share details on the new arrangement in the coming days.

Product tanker CHEM PLUTO was hit by, reportedly, drone, in the morning Dec 23 in Arabian sea, some 2200 nm off Indian coast. The tanker was on its way from Saudi Arabia to New Mangalore, India, carrying crude oil. Tanker was damaged, probably heavily, but 20 Indian crew are safe, fortunately. Indian Coast Guard and Navy responding, air carrier moving to strike area. Tanker is to be taken to understood, nearest Indian port, whether she’s to be towed, or is capable of moving under own power, is unknown

The eruption does not pose a threat to life, Iceland’s government said in its statement. The area is closed to all traffic, it added, while strongly warning people not to approach the area. There are currently no disruptions to flights to and from Iceland, and international flight corridors remain open, the government said. It added that the eruption is classified as a fissure eruption, which does not usually result in large explosions or significant production of ash dispersed into the stratosphere. In the first two hours of the eruption, hundreds of cubic meters of lava were being released per second, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office. But the eruption’s intensity, and the level of seismic activity in the area, had decreased by early Tuesday, with lava spreading laterally from either side of the newly opened fissures.

From January 5-8, Iberia's ground staff are set to strike, coinciding with the Kings Day holiday and significantly impacting travel through Spanish airports. The strikes are a response to Iberia losing ground handling licenses in eight airports, affecting workers' salaries and conditions with the transfer to new license holders. Despite previous postponements in hopes of negotiating, unions are resuming strikes due to failed talks, indicating widespread disruptions during a busy travel period.

Dense fog has affected flights at O'Hare and Midway airports. The National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory for the entire Chicago area that initially expired at 9 a.m., but was later extended to 12 p.m. At Midway alone, there have been around 50 cancelations so far, with increasing delays as the FAA issued a ground stop until 10 30 a.m., after travel was put on hold late Saturday night. Meanwhile, O’Hare airport has reported only 15 canceled flights with minimal delays. A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines said they were working with travelers and working to get the situation resolved.

Container ship MAYVIEW MAERSK lost 46 containers off Northern Jutland coast in Skagerrak early in the morning Dec 22, while en route from Bremerhaven to Gdansk. MAERSK said containers were lost due to rough weather. The ship continued voyage, and their current location is off Gdańsk, Poland. Several containers have been already washed ashore, some damaged, with goods scattered along coastline.

On December 21, 2023, a group of pro-Palestine protesters in kayaks attempted to block the Vela, a Zim-chartered containership, as it arrived in Melbourne, Australia. The protesters claimed to disrupt shipments to Israel, asserting they were stopping war supplies, though the ship reportedly carried consumer products. The protest briefly interrupted port operations, continuing a series of disruptions dating back to October. These protests have included targeting other Zim ships and road blockades, with police arresting some individuals for obstructing roadway

The government has decided to restrict and prohibit the Israel-based shipping company ZIM from docking at any Malaysian port with immediate effect. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a statement on Wednesday said that the Ministry of Transport will take immediate action to impose a permanent ban on ZIM's vessels, which are en route to Malaysia's Westport. “Malaysia has also decided to no longer accept ships flying the Israeli flag to dock in the country. Furthermore, Malaysia has imposed a ban on any ship that are heading to Israel from loading cargo at Malaysian ports,” Anwar added.

Airlines operating from Schiphol Airport canceled 208 flights(On 12/21) in anticipation of strong winds from storm PIA. Flights canceled from 4:45 pm on 12/20. If the storm worsens, only one runway will be used for takeoff and landing at the airport, with continuous winds of up to 50 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 90 kilometers per hour expected. Schiphol Airport issued a statement saying "Customers need to consider delays and cancellations all day long. This applies to both departing and arriving flights".

At 8 a.m. on December 18, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) closed three railway crossings in Eagle Pass and El Paso, suspending freight trains on both sides of the border. The closure affects the bridge connecting the Mexican town of Piedras Negras with Eagle Pass and two bridges linking Ciudad Juarez with El Paso. El Paso's bridge is used by Union Pacific (UP) and BNSF, while Eagle Pass intersection is used by UP, and according to UP, almost 10,000 rail vehicles are suspended on both sides of the border due to closure.