Regional Updates in Europe

Last updated on November 8, 2024

Operational and Customer Service Overview

Last updated on November 8, 2024
Operations Team, Europe

"We understand that time is a valuable commodity. That's why our operational updates are designed to be brief, yet informative. In just two minutes, we can guide you through the main port updates and vessel news per service to assist with your cargo planning. We regularly update our information on this page, and twice a month, we'll remind you via email."

  • Valencia, ES and region: The severe flooding in Valencia (ES) has caused significant disruptions across our operations. All depots in the area are temporarily closed due to electricity outages and accessibility challenges. Our teams are on-site and working hard to restore full operations as soon as conditions permit. Please refer to our Live-Ticker here.

Vessel updates and port changes per service

Update: November 8, 2024

Management of affected bookings:
Starting Monday, November 4, 2024, the CTA has implemented vessel-specific regulations for the delivery of export containers.

As a result, Carrier-Haulage bookings may be impacted, and transport routes need to be adjusted together with our partners.
You can be ensured, that Hapag-Lloyd is actively working to identify the best possible solutions for dispatching export containers, including the use of temporary storage at third-party locations.
However, we would like to inform you that any resulting storage and handling fees will be charged to the goods and invoiced accordingly.

Please be advised, that the CTA restrictions also apply to all merchant haulage bookings, and we would like to encourage you to contact the terminal directly for further information.

Update: Novemeber 4, 2024

The situation in the Red Sea, the delays in US ports due to strikes and ongoing construction at the berths are causing ship delays at Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA). Despite full use of all available resources, the current volume of export deliveries is exceeding CTA's storage capacity. In recent days and weeks, numerous measures have been implemented, including reallocating vessels between terminals and using external storage facilities to maintain the cargo flow. With this todays letter we have to inform you that CTA has to introduce temporary restrictions for export container deliveries. Starting Monday, November 4, 2024, the delivery of export containers will be regulated on a vessel-specific basis.

Antwerp, Belgium 

  • PSA 913: Yard at 75 - 80% utilization. Reefers at 70 - 75%.
  • PSA 869: Yard at 80 - 85% utilization. Reefers at 75 - 80% utilization.
  • AGW: Antwerp Gateways at 55 – 60%. Reefers at 55 – 60%. Terminal with cargo opening times 5 days prior to vessel ETA.

Rotterdam, Netherlands

  • ECT: Yard at 65 - 70% utilization.
  • RWG: yard at  70 - 75% utilization.   

United Kingdom

  • SOU: Yard at 75 – 80% utilization. Reefers at  45 – 50%.
  • LGP: Yard at 50 – 55% utilization. Reefers at 35 – 40%. 

Hamburg, Germany 

  • CTA: Terminal with backlog and congestion. Yard at 80 - 85% utilization. Terminal with berthing restrictions due to crane dismantling.
  • CTB: Yard at 75 - 80% but no impact to operations. Terminal with berth congestion as all main liner berth are fully occupied into beginning of November.

G.M.P. Le Havre, France

  • CNMP/GMP/TNMSC: GMP yard at 70% - 75%. Reefers at 65 - 70%. CNMP: Yard at 50 – 55% utilization.

Italy 

  • No updates for this week

Algier

  • No updates for this week

Israel

  • Operations under emergency situations
    • While ports are considered essential services and are expected to operate "as usual", our operations are being conducted in accordance with a contingency plan and guidelines provided by the relevant authorities, including the Home Front Command (Army) and the Ports and Shipping Authority (IMOT). Please note that some port employees have been recruited by the defence forces, which may lead to delays and disruptions.
  • Haifa IMO restrictions remain in place as follows:
    • No new DG bookings for loading/unloading
    • NO problem for transit DG cargo
    • Waterborne DG cargo may be unloaded and stored at ILHFA port upon approval by the Ministry of Transport, except for Bromine/Amonia - IMO 2.1, 2.3 which will be treated as DIRECT DELIVERY ONLY.
    • Following an announcement regarding a "special situation in the hinterland" in the geographical area in which the Port of Ashdod is located, the Ministry of Transport has instructed the Port to regulate the entry of vessels carrying hazardous materials ("HAZMAT") of any kind, subject to prior approval by the Israel Maritime and Port Authority.
  • Ashdod Port has updated restrictions for DG as follows:
    • No new DG bookings for loading/unloading
    • NO problem for transit DG cargo
    • Waterborne DG cargo may be unloaded and stored at ILASH port upon approval by the Ministry of Transport, except for Bromine/Amonia - IMO 2.1, 2.3 which will be treated as DIRECT DELIVERY ONLY.
    • Reefers containing HAZARDOUS WATER will be handled as DIRECT DELIVERY ONLY.

Greece

  • No updates for this week

Türkiye

  • No updates for this week

Romania

  • No updates for this week

Slovenia

  • No updates for this week

Croatia

  • No updates for this week

Portugal

  •  No update for this week 
Spain
  • Due to the recent heavy rainfall across south-eastern Spain, we are currently facing unavoidable disruptions to our transport schedules. Extreme weather conditions have impacted road safety and temporarily reduced the transport routes available in the region. Please refer to our Live-Ticker here

North (Poland, Denmark, Sweden and Finland)

  • No reports.

Germany & Central Europe

  • Due to rail infrastructure work, trains are delayed.
  • We are closely monitoring water levels at the Rhine River.

    Low water levels have been reported for the Rhine River as of November 2024. Current levels can be found on elwis.com. Charges apply as indicated in our Customer Letter from September 2024.

  • Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA) has implemented vessel-specific regulations for export container deliveries.
    As a result, Carrier-Haulage bookings may be impacted, and transport routes may need adjustment with our partners. We are working to find optimal solutions for dispatching export containers, including temporary storage at third-party sites. Please note that any resulting storage and handling fees will be invoiced accordingly.

Benelux

  • We are facing low water levels at the Rhine River and are monitoring the situation closely.

France

  • No reports.

United Kingdom/Ireland

  • No updates for this week.

Adriatic Sea / Black Sea / Levante / Northern Africa

  • No updates for this week.

Spain and Portugal

  • Due to the recent heavy rainfall across south-eastern Spain, we are currently facing unavoidable disruptions to our transport schedules. Extreme weather conditions have impacted road safety and temporarily reduced the transport routes available in the region. Please refer to our Live-Ticker here

Ukraine/Russia updates:

  • Please visit general updates here, and the FAQ in this link.
  • UK and Ireland: Our booking confirmation for shipments on feeder vessels sailing from the United Kingdom and Ireland will now show the link to our Hapag-Lloyd Website. On this link you'll be able to find the free time allowed on quay and the storage/demurrage charges that will be incurred if this is exceeded. In addition, the shipping instructions cut-off period will be the same as VGM, MRN or UCR, and DGN. You will be able to see this on your booking confirmations from May 20, 2024.
  • For the surrender of Original Bills of Lading prior to container release at destination, please contact your local office for detailed guidance, they are happy to assist you. Please also consider electronic payment channels.
  • You can do all your transactions digitally – from placing a booking to sending a shipping instruction
  • To monitor your shipments, use the Hapag-Lloyd Navigator, or visit our Online Business section for vessel/container/booking status and sailing schedules information.
  • Get info and updates by subscribing to our CustomerNEWS.

Here's an update for Booking Cancellation Window for Region North Europe

Here's an update for your cargo planning in North Europe*. From April 8, 2024, we will be amending the application rule and time period that a booking may be cancelled without charge.

Currently, the booking cancelation fee is applicable for shipments where containers are canceled, reduced, re-booked within 7 calendar days before the booked vessel cut-off date.

With effect from April 8, 2024, the booking cancelation fee will be charged for any booking canceled, reduced, re-booked within 5 calendar days before the estimated departure (ETD) date.

*Countries in the scope of Region North Europe include Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Poland, France, Great Britain, Republic of Ireland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.

Update on Booking Confirmations in Antwerp

With your cargo planning in mind, our booking confirmations for shipments from Antwerp will no longer include the earliest delivery date. Instead, we will refer to the terminal websites for the cargo yard opening hours of your scheduled vessel at the PSA Antwerp and DP World terminals. To effectively plan your loading and transport arrangements, this live information is essential.

Remember to bookmark both terminal websites. They are listed below for your reference:

Contact

Contact your nearest operational expert

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