Weekly Logistics Briefing Key logistics updates for the week
(Week 2 of August 2025)

A fire broke out on an 8,553 TEU container ship in the South China Sea. According to Chinese media, the rescue operation began quickly but took four days to fully extinguish, with no injuries to the crew. The fire was completely extinguished on August 1, and the vessel is currently heading to Vietnam. Four containers were reported to have caught fire.

The container ship collided with the car carrier SFL Composer while navigating a busy section of the Danish Straits. Danish authorities reported that both vessels sustained significant damage above the waterline, with no injuries or pollution reported. The Maersk Gironde sustained bow damage and was en route from Wilhelmshaven, Germany, to Gdansk, Poland, at the time. The Danish Maritime Authority stated that both vessels are safely anchored awaiting damage assessment.

The container vessel operated by Evergreen Marine suffered a collapse of its container stacks while docked at the Port of Montevideo. Severe weather off the Rio Grande coast caused structural damage to cargo arrangements on deck. Maritime safety authorities have launched an investigation, highlighting the challenges of operating container vessels in adverse weather and the importance of proper cargo securing.

On the evening of August 6, United Airlines experienced a nationwide ground stop due to a technology outage. Approximately 1,000 flights were delayed and dozens canceled, affecting airports including O’Hare, George Bush, and San Francisco. The FAA reported an operational disruption, and it took several hours to resolve the issue. O’Hare is among the airports with scheduled cargo departures and arrivals for our shipments.

The Dardanelles Strait was temporarily closed in both directions due to smoke and reduced visibility caused by forest fires. The Ministry of Transportation of Turkiye stated that the action was taken due to fires spread by strong winds in the northwestern Çanakkale region. Smoke and low visibility continue, and the strait remains closed to allow aircraft, helicopters, and firefighting equipment to operate.