A.P. Moller-Maersk stated in a customer update on Thursday that disruptions caused by weather in Northern European ports and the diversion of ships away from the Red Sea have resulted in congestion at container reception docks in the ports. Maersk and other shipping companies have redirected ships away from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to route them around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa instead of passing through the Suez Canal, the shortest maritime route between Asia and Europe, due to attacks by the Houthi group in Yemen on vessels in the area.
The company noted that winter storms and the impact of the recent holiday season in Northern Europe have led to the closure of some ports and the suspension of navigation. Maersk stated, "Winter weather conditions as well as emergency events in the Red Sea are expected to affect operations across Europe and major ports." They added, "These conditions have resulted in increased density at the container berths in the ports, and we urge customers to retrieve their shipments as soon as possible after unloading to support the flow of movement."
The CEO of Maersk mentioned on Wednesday that the disruptions affecting global shipping due to attacks on ships in the Red Sea are likely to continue for at least a few more months. In a recent update released on Thursday, the company said, "While we hope for a sustainable resolution in the near future and are doing what we can to contribute to that, we urge customers to prepare for continued exposure to complications in the region and significant disruptions in the global network." Maersk indicated that they have offered customers the option to divert some shipments from ships to air freight at ports in Oman and the UAE to transport goods by air to their destinations in Europe or the United States.
