DP World Delays – Update

Attention: Shipping Manager

The situation at DP World is still fraught with delays, with carriers being unable to collect containers due to continuing industrial action.  This is compounding the delays caused by the recent cyber attack.

Our carriers in all ports in Australia are working extremely hard and around the clock to try and collect all containers, but are limited to when DP World is actually open.  Some are now working Saturdays and Sundays to retrieve import containers from the wharf, in an effort to avoid wharf storage.  Collections need to be staged around the industrial action stoppages, which is challenging.

For containers collected over a weekend, a weekend surcharge will be applied by carriers.  Unfortunately, this is unavoidable for those containers that need to be collected before storage starts.

Some shipping lines have diverted certain vessels to other wharves to avoid the DP World delays.  Other shipping lines have changed port rotations in an effort to bring their schedules back into line.  We are however, seeing further hold-ups to get containers shipped back to their original port of discharge, due to all of the current problems impeding container movements.

For those vessels that are still calling at DP World, shipping lines are not offering any additional free time, an attitude we have sadly become accustomed to over the past few years.  We have been told that if a detention invoice is received, then we need to plead the case with them.  Regrettably, this does not mean that they will actually agree to reducing or waiving any of the associated costs.

We will continue to keep you updated as the situation unfolds.  In the meantime, if you are concerned about your shipments, please do not hesitate to contact your customer service representative.