Week 23 – Europe Operational Update

In our letter of April 28th 2026, we informed you about the modernization works at the HHLA terminal CTA in Hamburg and the operational challenges ahead. We are now writing to update you on the concrete steps we are taking and the urgent actions we need from you.

The modernization works will impact operations at CTA Hamburg from late May until further notice. During this period, we will omit Hamburg CTA for our AL4 service sailings. Please note that the ECX and AL1 services are currently not affected by this change.

Please find the first affected sailing below.

All subsequent affected sailings will be communicated in due time. We are committed to minimizing disruption to your supply chain throughout this period.

Alternative Port Options

To protect your cargo interests, we will offer load and discharge options at the following alternative ports:

What We Will Do For You

For all shipments booked under Carrier's Haulage, we will proactively arrange the redirection of pre-carriage and on-carriage to the alternative ports. Please be aware that customs clearance processes may be impacted due to the change of port. We recommend you review your customs documentation and consult with your customs broker where necessary.

Need Haulage Support? We Are Here to Help.

If you need haulage support to redirect your cargo to Wilhelmshaven, our Inland Delivery Team can arrange the necessary transport quickly and efficiently.

Contact: [email protected]

We understand this is a challenging situation. We are committed to keeping disruption to your cargo to an absolute minimum and will keep you informed of any further developments.

We appreciate your understanding and continued partnership.

Modernization works at HHLA Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA) in Hamburg are progressing, with new remotely operated cranes set to be installed between mid-May and July 2026. During this period, temporary changes to terminal access and increased operational complexity may impact handling times.

To help maintain smooth operations, customers are encouraged to consider alternative ports and optimize container dwell times.

Click the button below to view the full update and all recommended measures.

Germany

Hamburg CTA

• Yard occupancy is at 85%. Delivery restriction for IMO reefer units in place.

• Situation this week critical with several operational challenges and low performance.

• IEX San Felipe lost Seaintel reporting due to the congestion and needed to perform a C&R (2nd IEX in a row with C&R).

• During operations of AL1 Porto Germeno, terminal advised 200 cuts expected. Impact could be shifted to PGX AS Claudia route, due to low performance from CTA.

• AL3 Al Safat will perform a discharge call at Eurogate/CTH to keep the CTA line-up under control.

• Outlook for the next week is bleak with several critical Seaintel arrivals and delays pressuring onwards schedules.

• All options are currently being reviewed, including further diversions, as the terminal is congested and operating above capacity.

Wilhelmshaven CTW

• Yard density is around 70% and is not a concern.

• The line-up overall is well planned but remains very tight with no buffer for unforeseen events, be it additional vessel delays or operational issues.

• The sick rate of port workers remains on the higher side and thus reduces structural resources.

• The IOS Baltimore Express contingency call has been aligned with a move count of 3,500, which is 2,000 above PF.

• Due to the nonappearance of a competitor vessel, around 1,600 empties can be discharged from the RDO Fortune next week.

• Vessels coming out of CTA remain a challenge for the CTW line-up.

• PGX, for example, requires CORs to call BRV prior to HAM using the waiting time, as otherwise the delay into WVN would not be manageable.

Bremerhaven NTB

• Yard occupancy is at 93% but remains manageable; however, IMO/OOG slots are still tight.

• Any measures that can advance loading or accelerate pickups would be of great help.

• Line-up is very stable and Gemini vessels are arriving and departing on proforma.

• PGX needs to be reviewed week by week to determine whether COR BRV-HAM-WVN needs to be done due to challenges at CTA in Hamburg.

Hamburg CTH / Eurogate

• Yard occupancy is at 85%.

• Smooth operations throughout the weekend and week.

• Baltimore Express with omit due to schedule recovery, allowing further capacity to be taken up by AL3 Al Safat discharge call.

• Currently no challenges with IMO 9 discharge, but the situation is closely monitored on a vessel-by-vessel basis.

Netherlands

Rotterdam ECT

• Yard occupancy remains stable at 86%.

• The reefer situation is currently stable.

• Gang availability is under control; however, due to the high number of cranes out of service, berth productivity is low.

  • Al Safat BP 43

  • CC Estelle BP 57

  • Alula Express BP 75

• Barge delays are between 36 and 48 hours.

• Feeder delays are approximately 48 hours.

• A structural increase of second modality delays up to 5 days is expected, as ECT plans to bring Ocean Alliance service NEU3 from the Euromax terminal to call DDE for the next 3 months.

Rotterdam Maasvlakte II

• Yard occupancy is at 85%.

• Manila Express arrival on PF, departure 17 hours behind PF.

• Terminal outage from 3-1930 until 3-2330.

• Gate closure for empty containers, HLC & MSK, as from 3-1900 to reduce yard levels due to forecasted bad weather.

• Re-opening expected on the 5th AM.

• Delay in line-up due to bad weather pushes PL Germany to call Delta II first, then APM Maasvlakte II.

Rotterdam Delta II

• Yard occupancy is at 30%.

• PL Germany AL1 berthed with delay.

• Discharge call of Johannes Maersk, EME service usually located at RWG.

United Kingdom

London Gateway

• Yard occupancy:

  • Dry: 59%

  • Reefer: 62%

• Rail issues this week due to a train hitting the rail points within the terminal, resulting in 6 train departures being cancelled.

• Repairs should be completed by 11:00 hrs on 03/06/26, when normal operations are expected to resume.

• Operations stable.

• Maribo Maersk cut 283 empties as restows were far higher than expected.

• IOS Baltimore Express has advanced and is way below PF moves.

• Madison Maersk is overbooked; additional moves have been requested from MSK / GTW.

• QC003 is OOS as awaiting parts that are out of stock. No return date currently.

• Empty stock below free pool level on the quay.

• New PF windows agreed; switch-over vessels now confirmed.

• Labour stable with 12–14 gangs.

Southampton

• Operations are running smoothly overall.

• Last-minute omission of the AL3 Al Safat last weekend due to further delays in ANR.

• Cargo returning on Yantian Express; terminal has agreed to additional moves.

• Gemini and non-Gemini vessels are planned with berth on arrival.

• Yard occupancy:

  • Dry: 74%

  • Reefer: 75%

• Berth plan with some flexibility.

• WK24 is the approach to clear SCT5 for delivery of the new cranes.

• The arrival of the new crane has been advanced to 11 June 2026.

• Berth SCT5 will be unavailable from 12 June to 22 June while cranes are positioned.

Belgium

Antwerp PSA 869 / 913

• Q869:

  • Yard occupancy: 80%

  • Reefers: 65%

  • MTs: 35%

• Q913:

  • Yard occupancy: 102%

  • Reefers: 65%

  • MTs: 65%

• HMM Tacoma in port 03/PM and Wilhelmshaven Express in port 05/1400 will help bring down the critical yard figures.

• Truck turnaround: 38–45 minutes.

• Barge operations are normal.

• Labour:

  • 33+ gangs on weekdays

  • 26–30 gangs on weekends

• Q869 – Crane 23:

  • Maintenance will be back operational as from Friday 05/2130.

  • Feeder/barge line-up impacted.

  • Feeders will be handled between mainliners.

France

Le Havre HGT

• Yard occupancy has increased to 70%, with shuttle MB2 currently in operation.

• No issues are expected regarding operations or berth availability for other vessels this week.

• As usual, all calls are scheduled within a 48-hour window.

Le Havre TNMSC

• The partner vessel, MSC, is expected this week.

• No issues are anticipated for berthing or the working program.

• 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.

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:

• PSA
• World