Ningbo Meishan terminal closed, container ships diverted to surrounding areas

As with the previously closed Yantian port, vessels calling at Ningbo have begun queuing to enter, either diverting to nearby operating ports, or canceling sailings to Ningbo Meishan.

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Ningbo Meishan Island International Container Terminal - MSICT (Photo: DW)

Ningbo Meishan Isaland International Container Terminal (MSICT) of Ningbo-Zhoushan port has remained closed since August 11 at a critical time for global logistics.

The closure of a key container terminal in one of the world's busiest ports was caused by a worker testing positive for COVID-19. This event is similar to the closure at Yantian Port, another major container hub, which has had a negative impact on container logistics services in the region.

As with Yantian port, ships calling at Ningbo have begun queuing up to dock, either diverting to nearby operating ports, or skipping sailings to MSICT altogether.

Maersk announced on August 13 that a number of ships calling at MSICT have begun moving to other ports in Ningbo. Most of Maersk's container ships call at other ports in Ningbo; but five ships on Maersk's AC6 service calling at Ningbo Meishan in August will have to bypass the port.

Maersk reports that loading and unloading nearby Ningbo Beilun Container Terminal Phase 4, where many of its ships are used, have a two-day waiting time. Many other container shipping lines have also announced their ships will skip MSICT.

The closure of MSICT will put a great strain on the supply chain. Analysts say that, as with the port of Yantian, nearby ports will become busier and wait times will increase as container shipping lines look to unloading methods for their customers in the area with the least disruption.

The closure of the Yantian port has come at a bad time as it disrupts the supply of goods to economies trying to reopen in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ningbo closure comes at a critical time for companies looking to get their goods into retail stores in time for the December holiday season.

This closure will cause delays to cargo containers due to port transit, but will also disrupt the flow of empty container equipment that is key to container shipping during the pandemic. .

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