Yard density at the Rotterdam port has been extremely high over the last few months due to unreliable ocean-going ship schedules and longer dwell times for import containers, the port said on Monday. The situation has led terminals in some instances to divert empty containers to depots to bring down congestion at yards, it said.

“Terminals are allowing shipping carriers only a limited capacity for empty boxes and are focusing on transporting loaded containers,” Kuehne + Nagel International AG, one of Europe’s largest freight forwarders, said in an e-mailed reply to questions. “Containers are piling up at the terminals, and more and more containers cannot be returned on departures, including those to Asia.”

The situation has meant longer waiting times for vessels at all major North European ports, Kuehne + Nagel said. “Unfortunately it is a recurring phenomenon in the current market situation in Northern European ports,” the Rotterdam port said.

SOURCE: BLOOMBERG