Regional Updates in Asia & Oceania

Operational and Customer Service Updates for Asia & Oceania

+++ last update: January 10, 2021 +++

Terminal Operations

Japan:

• No specific issue, no stoppage, no slow down.
  

China:

• Pusan:  PUS yards remain at very high levels of more than 86% because of increased import transit volumes and arrival bunching due to off proforma. Expected to continue until Jan 2022.
  
  All Pusan terminals temporarily restrict gate-in moves for local & TS export which is not to be loaded out within 3 days (5 days for TS) to improve yard utilization until further notice.
  
  HJNC berth waiting time is 28 to 40 hours, PNIT berth waiting is 12 to 24 hours and HPNT is 3 to 15 hours.
  
  GWCT yard utilization is 80% and expected waiting time is 36 to 48 hours.

• Shanghai: The average berth-waiting time up to 24 hours at SIPGSD YS4 terminal and 1 to 2 days WGQ terminal.
  

• Ningbo:Yard situation at all terminals with an average of around 80%. The port might be affected by strong wind / monsoon, which might cause port closure and lower vessel productivity.
  
  Expected average berth waiting time across all Ningbo terminals 36 to 48 hours.

• Nansha: GOCT terminal average waiting time of 0 to 12 hours. Berth-on-Arrival for regular service at NICT terminal. Extra loader case by case.
  

• Yantian: For export laden delivery, the current delivery rule / arrangement is ETB - 7 days. There is no restriction for import-laden delivery & empty delivery. For vessel berthing, 0 - 1 day waiting time is expected. Currently, YICT yard density of DG/RF is high, longer waiting time is expected if vessel has big DG/RF discharge volume. Current yard utilization is at 81%. In order to control yard density, extra loader arrangement will be prioritized: 1)No restriction on extra loader with loading only. 2) For extra loader with empty discharge only, with laden discharge only, must apply in advance to terminal on case by case basis. To cope with the sharply increasing number of import and export DG cargoes, YICT will conduct upgrade + reconstruction of the current DG yard；20 TEU DG quota for import + export + transshipment is offered by YICT.
  

• Qingdao: Qingdao port is having berth congestions due to seasonal weather conditions. Average waiting time is 36 to 48 hours.
  

• Shekou: Berth waiting time at CCT/MCT is between 0 to 24 hours whereas SCT is 24 t0 48 hours. It is also subject to yard density. Currently, RF yard density is high where export RF delivery acceptance is subject to RF yard utilization. Vessel port stay time is longer than before because of the pandemic impact. Due to COVID-19 prevention requirement, SHK pilot availability is tight and pilot service might not be available at time requested. All berths are in operation but with high yard utilization of 85% to 89%.
  

Hong Kong

• The current yard density and utilization of MTL is high at 83%. Vessel berthing will be prioritized for pure loading vessels or vessels with loading volume more than discharge volume. Berthing of vessels with discharge volume more than load volume will be handled subject to MTL yard situation. In average, the waiting time is 0 to 18 hours or longer for discharge vessel and is subject to yard density. The berth waiting time for high re-stow volume vessel is also longer. This berthing arrangement will continue until the yard inventory resume to healthy level. Effective from Dec 6, 2021, HKSPA (MTL/HIT) will implement new measures to minimize face-to-face contact between terminal staff and ship crew. Reefer yard utilization at HKSPA (MTL/HIT) is expected to be on high level in Dec/2021 and Jan/2022. It is mainly because of commencement of Cherry / Fruit seasons as well as strict COVID-19 pandemic control measures implemented by local authorities at Hong Kong and China boundary.
  

Vietnam

• In VNVUT, the berth waiting time for TCIT is within 6 hours while for SSIT, we can get berth on arrival (BoA). For Cat Lai, the waiting time is also within 6 hours. Yard density of TCIT is 83% while Cat Lai is 88%.
  

Singapore:

• The average waiting time is within 30 hours for both export and import voyages. Priority is given to export calls to relieve the high yard density which is around 90%.
  
  In view of heightened risk of the spread of Covid-19 infection, PSA introduced “Enhanced safe management measures - contactless (segregated) cargo operations” with effect from 3rd May, 2021. The main aim is to minimize the contact between vessel crew and shore-based personnel. There is travel ban for all sign on/off crew from/to India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan. Vessel calls with last port India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan require maritime safety declaration prior arrival for berthing approval. Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has been rescinding in-principle approvals (IPAs) and rejecting crew change applications for crew with recent travel history to Myanmar and Indonesia. This is likely due to the Singapore government’s tightening of travel restrictions for travelers from Myanmar (wef 15 July 2021, 2359 hours) and from Indonesia (wef 12 July 2021, 2359 hours) in view of the worsening situation in those countries.
  
  As a precautionary measure, crew change and vaccination of crew will be temporarily suspended in the Port of Singapore: Crew with recent travel history to Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe within the last 14 days preceding arrival to Singapore.
  

Malaysia:

• For Westports, the average berth waiting time is 100 hours and yard utilization is high (around 98%). For Northport, the berth waiting time is 8-16 hours and yard utilization is 93%. Vessel berthing priority is as per ETA on window and vessel loading moves.
  

Thailand:

• Thailand (Laem Chabang) – HPT are allocating berth on arrival for THEA vessels. Yard utilization: HPT / Terminal C – 57% and Terminal D – 36%. No delay for collection or acceptance of containers.
  

New Zealand - Auckland:

• No specific issue, no stoppage, no slow down.
  In machinery spaces one person at a time allowed.
  • Additional cleaning after change of shift
    
  • Hampers ability to maximize vessels and limited to at times proforma exchange.
    
  • Delays due to already out of window services. (96% of services coming to AU are late)

Australia:

• Current Berth Delays at Patrick Terminals around Australia:
  • Sydney – 2 to 4 Days
  • Melbourne; 10 to 12 Days (industrial action and seasonal volumes)
  • Fremantle –. 0.5 to 1 Day
  • Brisbane – No Delays

Railway Operations
No reported issue nor known disruption

Truck Availability

Vietnam

• Less trucking capacity availability in HCMC area is still noticeable.  

Barge / Feeder Availability

Thailand:

• Import LCH to BKK sector via Terminal A0.5. Expect 2 to 5 days delay. PAT is studying to allow barge pick up directly at Inter Terminals instead of A0.5 if cargo overflow at A0.5.

• Feeder space ex. THLCH to SGSIN is tight in Jan.

Nansha/ Shekou/ Hong Kong

• Due to quarantine requirement for crew home leave for 2022 Chinese New Year Holiday from January31, 2022 to February 6, 2022, feeder services between Nansha/Shekou/Hong Kong and outports in South China will be suspended earlier staring from late Dec 2021 up to early/mid-Feb 2022 (different ports have different suspension periods. for details, please refer to below HLC website)

Depots / Equipment
No disruptions at the moment

Customer Service

• We are continuing to operate on a Business as usual basis. If you require any assistance please do not hesitate to contact your local customer service representative in East Asia, local page can be found here and for Oceania local page here.
• For faster BL release at destination, under the current COVID-19 conditions, we encourage customers to switch from OBL to SWB however; we do understand that this is not always possible. If any assistance is needed please reach out to your local customer service documentation team.
• Counter services are still open for majority of the offices. For Counter Service Operating Hours, please contact your local office.
  
• Many of our staff are now working back in office, and our contact center remains fully functioning throughout this period.
  
• Thailand - implemented restricted counter service hours in BKK and LCH for drop off and collection of documents
  
• Cambodia – building management applied restriction by not allowing visitor’s access. HL have to release documents to customers on every Thursday morning at the ground floor outside the office building. Staff or visitors have to show their staff ID card and vaccination card before they are allowed to enter the office building
  
• If you are not already doing so, we highly recommend that you use our e-tools (Web-Booking and EASI) for submitting bookings and Shipper Instructions.
  
• For vessel/container/booking status and sailing schedules, please visit the Online Business section on our website.
  
• We highly recommend that you check out the Hapag-Lloyd Navigator tool for an overall glance of your current shipments with us.
• For Dangerous Good Cargo terminal gate acceptance, we strongly recommend customers to send us electronic copies of their Export Hazardous Declarations to be uploaded in your DG bookings.

Additional Information

Myanmar:

• Myanmar still under “martial law” with restricted movement and activities.

Yantian, China

• Local Customs have tightened up COVID-19 control / prevention measures for vessel. The Customs will carry out COVID-19 test for all crew on board if vessel have called Indian ports or have on-signer who have visited or have passed through India in the last 21 days before visiting Yantian; Cargo operation cannot be commenced until the test results, which normally take about 8 hours at daytime, are negative for all crew. In addition, the terminals have restricted ship services such as ship repair, AGM inspection, ship & bunker survey, ship supply etc. All terminals are currently using a contactless mode of cargo operation. Effective from August 1, 2021, YICT will not provide onboard reefer plugging / un-plugging service and such service have to be carried out by carrier appointed vendor.  
  

Shekou, China

Pilotservice limitation and restriction for under mention High Risk Vessel due to
pilot shortage and COVID-19 high-risk control.

1.  Vessel which had crew change in 14 days before Shekou arrival, and didn't have a whole vessel PCR test at Chinese port before Shekou;  
2. Ship which need crew PCR test requested by Shekou Customs