Shipping Update - United Kingdom
- Vessels are at/above capacity & shipment bookings are now required to be made 4 weeks in advance.
- British Ports are congested as an outcome of this volume, & some vessels are now not berthing UK, but off-loading UK import containers at ports like Rotterdam and Antwerp.
- The UK port of Felixstowe is currently working at 160% of expected capacity, which is unsustainable.
- Storage facilities in the port precincts are over committed, impacted by Government storage of COVID PPE equipment, with over 11,000 containers being stored at Felixstowe Port alone
- There is a shortage of empty containers for export use, due to the trade imbalance and vessels not calling in the UK
- The situation at the ports is being blamed on the COVID situation, but also with UK importers try to import surplus stock before Brexit finalisation.
- There is uncertainty in UK as to what will follow after Jan 1st 2021, when the UK officially leaves the EU without Trade Agreements in place.
- As a result of the congestion, shipping lines in the UK are now introducing the following surcharges:
- UK Port Congestion / $300 USD
- Peak Season Surcharge / $400USD
- Container Imbalance Surcharge / TBA
