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Update 8 – the latest update on the Bay of Biscay
Over the weekend, weather conditions have stabilised in the Bay of Biscay, where all crossings are feasible again and no new restrictions are expected in the terminals. The weather outlook at the time of publishing expects the conditions to remain stable for the upcoming week.
Although challenges are easing, terminal operations can still experience ripple effects as a consequence of the weather disruption. To help maintain operational levels at the terminals and ensure highest productivity, customers are kindly asked to please pick up their import containers from terminals in the Western Mediterranean and Northern Europe. Prompt pick-up will support smoother operations and help avoid congestion and pressure on the terminals.
Our teams continue to work closely with the terminals to maintain productivity levels and healthy yard density. We will continue to communicate any changes and updates as soon as they are known.
For the most recent schedule information, we encourage you to sign up for ETA notifications. Should you have any questions, please reach out to your usual Maersk representative.
Update 7 – the latest update on the Bay of Biscay
Weather conditions over the Bay of Biscay have continued to worsen since the last update. Strong winds and high waves are reaching levels that make crossing the bay unsafe. To ensure the safety of our crew, customers’ cargo, and vessels, vessels bound to cross the Bay of Biscay are expected to shelter on 12 and 13 February to avoid the severe weather conditions.
This may cause additional vessel delays of around 24 hours – the amount of time needed to cross the Bay of Biscay. Assuming the current forecast for weather improvement on 13 February holds, vessels are expected to assume their planned routes the same day.
Terminals in the region are currently performing cargo operations with vessels alongside as planned. Weather conditions are forecast to deteriorate on Friday, 13 February, which may result in some operational stoppage at both terminals.
We continue to monitor the situation and forecast at sea and at terminals and remain in close contact with crews at sea and terminal authorities. Safety of our crew, our customers’ cargo, and our vessels remains our top priority. We will continue to communicate any changes to the situation as soon as more information is available.
For the most accurate and timely schedule information, we encourage you to sign up for ETA notifications. Should you have any questions, please reach out to your usual Maersk representative.
Update 6 – the latest update on Western Mediterranean ports
Over the past several days, adverse weather has continued to affect operations across the Western Mediterranean. While terminals are largely operating as planned, and berthing and cargo have resumed, both Algeciras and Tangier remain under considerable pressure due to earlier congestion, disrupted line ups, and ongoing wind conditions that still limit crane productivity at times. Yard density remains elevated, and despite operational improvements, terminals may still experience short-notice adjustments or temporary slowdowns due to strong winds.
At sea, several vessels continue to encounter challenging conditions in the Bay of Biscay. A new period of severe weather is expected to develop from 11 until 13 February, when strong winds and high waves will impact crossing conditions, meaning vessels will need to shelter. This will cause additional delays and potentially impact schedule reliability. This means that, even though terminals are working, vessel flows may remain irregular as the schedule absorbs earlier delays and navigates the incoming weather impact.
On the inland side, traffic in and out of the ports is still recovering, with congestion in the surrounding areas and previous flooding continuing to slow down truck movements. Although the overall situation is better than during the peak disruption late last week, the environment remains fragile and recovery is expected to be gradual.
We are working closely with our execution teams and terminal partners across the region to stabilise the line up, manage operational windows, and keep cargo moving safely wherever possible. Conditions are improving, but the situation remains dynamic, and further delays or operational adjustments cannot be ruled out as weather developments unfold. We are committed to keeping you informed and will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.
For the most accurate and timely schedule information, we encourage you to sign up for ETA notifications. Should you have any questions, please reach out to your usual Maersk representative.
Update 5 – the latest update on Western Mediterranean ports
In the past few days, ports in the Western Mediterranean have seen a stoppage of operations due to severe weather conditions, and although operations have now resumed, the ports continue to experience congestion. Specifically in the areas of Algeciras and Tangier, truck traffic is high, and instances of road flooding are making movements to and from port difficult. Weather conditions around the port area are expected to remain challenging until 7 February. At both terminals, strong winds are affecting crane productivity, but vessels alongside are continuing the operations as long as it is safe to do so.
Several vessels are still navigating challenging conditions in the Bay of Biscay. While a brief improvement is expected, forecasts indicate another period of severe weather in the days ahead starting around 11 February, which may again impact vessel movements and crossing conditions. Terminal operations are, however, gradually improving.
We continue to monitor the situation closely together with execution teams and terminals. We will continue to share updates as conditions evolve and more information is available.
Please sign up for ETA notifications to be notified of schedule changes as contingencies are updated in the system.
Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your usual Maersk representative.
Update 4 – the latest on Bay of Biscay and Western Mediterranean ports
After vessel crossings have resumed through the Bay of Biscay, and terminals have resumed operations, weather in the region has now deteriorated beyond initial expectations. This means that terminals are expected to close for longer than anticipated, and vessels will be leaving their berths for safety at the latest tonight, 3 February. This unfortunately also means that vessel schedules will be further delayed, again impacting operations in the Western Mediterranean, Northern Europe and beyond.
Our teams are assessing the situation and the impact of longer than expected severe weather conditions. We continue to keep in close contact with the affected terminals’ authorities and vessel operators and work on contingency planning, including berth line-up and vessel schedules. We’d like to encourage customers once again to sign up for ETA notifications and be notified of schedule changes as contingencies are updated in the system.
We thank you for your understanding and cooperation at this time. Our teams remain committed to providing you updates on the situation as soon as they are available.
Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your usual Maersk representative.
Update 3 – the latest on Bay of Biscay
Over the weekend, vessel crossings through the Bay of Biscay have resumed, and terminals in the region have resumed operations earlier than expected. This has brought some relief to the situation, however vessel arrivals continue to be delayed as the result of the stoppage.
While we continue to sail through the Bay of Biscay at this moment, a new wave of severe weather is expected on Wednesday, 4 February, impacting crossings as well as terminal operations in the Western Mediterranean. This continues to cause knock-on impact to operations in Northern Europe as well.
Our teams continue to monitor the situation, speak to the affected terminals’ authorities, and work on contingency planning. The previous disruptions have meant vessels are significantly delayed in their arrival and departure, with several services being delayed week on week, further impacting upcoming schedules. We continue to refine and update vessel ETAs throughout the week as weather developments firm up and ETAs are confirmed. For the latest information, please sign up for ETA notifications to be notified of any changes.
To help ease the pressure on terminals and minimise the risk of further delays, we kindly ask that import containers are collected as early as possible. Prompt pick-up will support smoother operations and help reduce congestion and pressure on the terminals. If you require support moving cargo from the terminal to its final destination, our Inland Transport Solutions team remains available to assist.
Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your usual Maersk representative.
Update 2 - including impact on flows and terminal operations across Northern Europe
As severe weather conditions continue to cause industry-wide disruptions, we would like to provide you with an update of the current situation and its impact on operations.
Although weather conditions continue to remain challenging, we expect to see some improvement in the Bay of Biscay that would provide an opportunity for the safe crossing of vessels. For the passage to be considered safe, weather conditions must improve and remain stable for at least 24 hours - the typical duration of the Bay of Biscay transit. The next safe transit windows are expected from the evening of 31 January, and again on 2 February. Our teams continue to monitor the weather forecast and plan vessel transits accordingly while prioritising the safety of our crew, our customers’ cargo, and our vessels. This situation will continue to impact vessel arrivals, as well as cargo flows into Northern Europe.
Our teams, together with the respective terminals, continue to do their utmost to resume operations in the West Mediterranean. Weather conditions have been improving, and the terminals in the region expect to resume operations as of 30 January at the latest, weather permitting. Please note that further closures are likely next week, due to another front on the way to the region. We continue to monitor the conditions and will keep customers informed of any new developments.
To support healthy yard density, we continue to kindly ask that customers pick up import containers as soon as possible. We continue to update schedules in the system as soon as any contingency plans or schedule changes are finalized. Please sign up for ETA notifications to receive the most recent information. If you require support moving cargo from the terminal to its final destination, our Inland Transport Solutions team remains available to assist.
South-West and Western Europe are experiencing severe winter weather conditions, including heavy storms and snowfall. The severe conditions are causing significant industry-wide disruptions with vessels sheltering and terminals having to stop operations or working with reduced productivity.
As a result, productivity at terminals and depots has been reduced, while snow and icy road conditions are causing traffic congestion and delays for inland transportation to and from terminals. These factors are contributing to longer waiting times for both import and export cargo, as well as increasing yard congestion at several terminals.
At the time of publishing, terminals in the West Mediterranean have stopped operations with no clear indication of when operations can start again. This also impacts cargo flows to and from North Europe. While the Bay of Biscay has seen some improvement in weather conditions, these are expected to worsen again throughout the week. This situation is affecting the entire industry, and due to the severity and uncertainty of the conditions, we expect delays and closures to continue to impact vessels and terminals across the board.
Our teams are working hard to minimise the impact on your supply chain with contingency plans, schedule recoveries, and other measures within our power. The teams are also in close contact with partner carriers, third party terminals, and other stakeholders to reduce the impact of this situation in a joint effort. We continue to update ETAs in the system based on best available information and encourage customers to sign up for ETA notifications for most recent information.
To help ease the pressure on terminals and minimise the risk of further delays, we kindly ask that import containers are collected as early as possible. Prompt pick-up will support smoother operations and help reduce congestion and pressure on the terminal. When delivering containers to terminals, please ensure that snow and ice are removed as thoroughly as possible to allow for safe and efficient handling. If you require support moving cargo from the terminal to its final destination, our Inland Transport Solutions team remains available to assist.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during these challenging conditions. We will communicate any new developments as soon as possible.
Should you have any questions, or require further assistance, please get in touch with your local representative.