Weekly Logistics Briefing Key logistics updates for the week (Week 2 of April 2024)

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurred at a depth of 34.8km, 18km south of Hualien City, around 07:58 April 3. Taiwan's strongest earthquake in 25 years. According to Taiwan Central Meteorological Administration, aftershocks are expected to occur over the next three to four days. Tsunami warnings have been issued in Taiwan, southern Japan, and the Philippines, waves of less than 0.5m have been observed on some coasts, and airlines have suspended some flights. Currently, tsunami warnings in Japan and the Philippines have been lifted. Subway service was temporarily suspended in Taipei and resumed in an hour, and Taiwan Airport (TPE) is currently operating normally , some flight delays occur.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday it expects to open a new channel to the Port of Baltimore by the end of April, freeing up commercial shipping blocked by a collapsed bridge, and then restore port access to full capacity by the end of May. Two auxiliary waterways were opened early last week, but major cargo ships are not allowed to pass due to shallow water. By the end of May, the corps said it expects to restore port access to its full capacity with a 700-foot-wide by 50-foot-deep navigation channel.

ONE postponed the launch of East Coast 4 (EC4) service until the Red Sea situation stabilizes. ONE said, "To ensure the consistency and reliability of our services, we will reassign the vessels to our other East Coast services for continued stability". It will add the following ports of call to other East Coast services to provide sufficient port coverage while the EC4 service is paused. Meanwhile, the U.S. imposes sanctions on shipping companies and oil tankers suspected of trading Iranian oil. The U.S. Treasury Department is blocking a Dubai-based company called Oceanlink Maritime DMCC, claiming it is deeply involved in the shipment of Iranian oil products. The U.S. is implementing continuous sanctions to pressure oil trade, which is known to supply 90% of Iran's imports, with the aim of preventing funds from flowing into terrorist forces such as Houthis rebels.

Maersk OC1 service of Panama Canal transportation resumes next month. Maersk is to resume its OC1 Oceania-North America east coast string as an all-water service through the Panama Canal next month, dropping its use of the Isthmus rail land bridge link. As rainy season approaches, Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has increased its daily transit limit to 27 from the 24 it had enforced in December. The Loadstar Premium reported that Panama is expecting steady rain fall this week and next.

Finland's central trade union announced that it would stop the strike, which halted the movement of most cargo, to begin negotiations with the government. The ongoing strike will continue until 06:00 on April 8. The strike was targeted at port and train freight movements. Labor unions representing cargo handlers, drivers, etc. went on strike on March 11 in protest of the plan to cut social welfare benefits, and the strike has been extended every week as the government refused to negotiate. CMA CGM is unloading cargo bound for Finland in Tallinn, Estonia. The union is demanding negotiations from the recently elected prime minister and the government, and the union's executive board will be convened on April 18 to evaluate the progress.

Port labor unions belonging to the General Confederation of Trade Unions (CGT) went on strike across France on April 8. Purpose of strike is to denounce delay in negotiations related to pension reform. It will be held for 24 hours on April 8th, and it is expected to affect all port operations in France.

After the death of a colleague while working at Thessaloniki International Airport on April 1, Greek air traffic controllers will suspend work from 8 a.m. to noon on April 9 to protest the shortage of manpower. The union requires additional recruitment of manpower, the presence of doctors at all airports, and the implementation of a system to manage and prevent fatigue and stress of air traffic controllers. No flights take off or land at Greek airports during the strike.

Eight people are missing after a container ship and a fishing boat collided near Hainan Island in southern China on 3 April. State broadcaster CCTV reported that the SITC Danang container ship collided with a fishing boat around 00:15. 21 ships and 5 aircrafts are searching, but no missing persons have been found so far.

Railway drivers associated with the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) labor union will go on strike nationwide from April 4 to 9, demanding higher salaries. Trains affected include Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains, CrossCountry on April 5, Chiltern, GWR, LNER, Northern, and TransPennine Trains on April 6, and Greater Anglia, c2c, GTR Great Northern on April 8. These include Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway main line and SWR Island Line. The union will also refuse to work overtime from 4 to 6 April, 8 to 9 April.

As security concerns in Port-au-Prince and its surrounding areas in Haiti increase, CMA CGM decided to suspend the operation of the Rapito terminal until further notice. However, services to northern Haiti, including Cap-Haïtien, are not affected and CMA CGM will continue regular operations there.