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The first quarter of the year comes with an overall upward trend in the number of vessels in waiting and operating status at worldwide ports. Although the last year seemed to be the year of record-high levels, we have seen even stronger figures each month in 2022. In the below screenshot from the Signal Ocean Platform, we view the number of vessels congested at worldwide ports and it is clear that even April comes with a higher trend than the same month last year.
Image 1 | Source: The Signal Ocean Platform, Port Congestion, Worldwide Ports, 3 days moving average, Years 2022-2021-2020
For the first quarter of this year, the average number of vessels in waiting and operating status at worldwide ports fetched almost 4700 vessels, 150 vessels more than the average figure for the first three months of the last year. The highest level of this year was on March 23 with 4867 vessels, while last year we saw figures nearing 5000 vessels during October. As the escalating levels of the current year continue it is not an unlikely scenario that the number of vessels surpasses the record levels of 2021.
Panamax, Supramax, and Handysize appear with remarkable levels compared to the Capesize, where the levels are of lower magnitude but still higher than last year. In the below screenshots, we can view the evolution of port congestion per main vessel class category and the volume of magnitude for the third week of April compared to the previous months.
Capesize - Panamax - Supramax - Handysize | Port Congestion, Number of Vessels
Capesize ~ 500 Vessels
Image 2 Capesize | Source: The Signal Ocean Platform Port Congestion, Worldwide Ports, 3 days moving average, Years 2022-2021-2020
Panamax ~ 1000 Vessels
Image 3 Panamax | Source: The Signal Ocean Platform Port Congestion, Worldwide Ports, 3 days moving average, Years 2022-2021-2020
Supramax ~ 1500 Vessels
Image 4 Supramax | Source: The Signal Ocean Platform Port Congestion, Worldwide Ports, 3 days moving average, Years 2022-2021-2020
Handysize ~ 1300 Vessels
Image 5 Handysize | Source: The Signal Ocean Platform Port Congestion, Worldwide Ports, 3 days moving average, Years 2022-2021-2020
It is interesting to examine the breakdown of volume per port and distinguish today’s top ports' activity (April 20), where we will see that Chinese ports come in the first ranking along with Brazil and Australia. Tianjin, Santos, Ningbo, and Port Hedland appear to be the hotspots for vessel congestion. Overall, in the ranking position, we clearly see that Chinese ports dominate in the port congestion issue, where the zero-COVID policy has created severe port supply disruptions for the consumed and raw material commodities.
Image 6 |Source: The Signal Ocean Platform. Today’s Activity, Top Ports, Waiting and Operating Status
Summary of Chinese Dry Bulk Ship Congestions - Increasing
With an overall eye on the latest status of Chinese dry bulk ship congestions, we see a sharp increasing trend for the last two consecutive weeks of April as the Chinese economy continues with zero-COVID measures while the rest of the world has decided to live with coronavirus.
Graph 1 | Source: The Signal Ocean Data, Summary of Chinese Dry Bulk Ship Congestions, per Vessel Class, Years 2021-2022
The situation is extremely tight in Shanghai, where there has been a complete lockdown for half a month at high social and economic costs. We can see below (image 7) the increasing evolution in the port congestion in Shanghai, with a significant spike in the number of vessels during the days of April and far above the yearly levels of 2020 and 2021.
Image 7 | Source: The Signal Ocean Platform, Port Congestion, Shanghai, 3 days moving average, Years 2022-2021-2020
The sharp increase in the overall number of dry bulk ships congested at Chinese ports during the third week of April is stemming mainly from the Panamax segment versus to Handysize and Supramax segments one week ago. In the Capesize segment, the number of ships in congestion increased to 140 vessels, 9 vessels more than the previous week, while in the Panamax, there is a significant increase to more than 290 ships in congestion, a 13% increase since the previous week's ending. In the Supramax segment, the number of ships in congestion kept the robust levels of the previous week's around 278 vessels, a 10% increase since the ending of Week 14. Lastly, for the Handysize, the number of ships in congestion continued at almost the same levels as the previous week, with 159 vessels, a 7.4% increase since the ending of Week 13.
Conclusion
Looking at the next days of April, the strict policy of China’s zero-COVID is likely to prolong the escalated levels of vessels congestion already recorded in the dry bulk segment. It seems that the second quarter of the year may bring new highs that we have not seen even 12 months ago, as the Chinese zero-COVID policy along with the current Russia-Ukraine geopolitical uncertainties stimulates an upward swing in the freight rates supported by the port supply disruptions and logistics issues.
This port congestion report was produced using insights and reports from the Signal Ocean platform and data called from our commercially available maritime data APIs.
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Creating a sustainable world requires us to embark on a journey towards a zero emission future, where every step is a commitment to preserve our planet for future generations.
Albert Greenway
Environmental Scientist, Sustainability Expert
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Increased Use of Renewable Energy:
Shipping companies are embracing renewable energy sources to power onboard systems and reduce emissions during port operations. Solar panels and wind turbines are being installed on vessels to generate clean energy, reducing reliance on auxiliary engines, and cutting down emissions. Shore power facilities in ports allow ships to connect to the electrical grid, eliminating the need for onboard generators while docked.
Collaboration and Industry Partnerships:
Recognizing that addressing emissions requires collective action, shipping companies, governments, and organizations have formed partnerships and collaborations. These initiatives focus on research and development, sharing best practices, and promoting knowledge transfer. Joint projects aim to develop and deploy innovative technologies, improve infrastructure, and create a supportive regulatory framework to accelerate the industry's transition towards a greener future. The Zero Emission Shipping - Mission Innovation.
To pave the way for a greener future in shipping, the availability of alternative fuels plays a vital role in their widespread adoption. However, this availability is influenced by factors such as port infrastructure, local regulations, and government policies. As the demand for cleaner fuels in shipping rises and environmental regulations become more stringent, efforts are underway to improve the accessibility of these fuels through infrastructure development, collaborations, and investments in production facilities.
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure has seen significant growth in recent years, resulting in more LNG bunkering facilities and LNG-powered vessels. Nonetheless, the availability of LNG as a marine fuel can still vary depending on the region. To ensure consistent availability worldwide, there is a need for further development of LNG supply chains and infrastructure. For biofuels, their availability hinges on production capacity and the availability of feedstock. Although biofuels are being produced and utilized in various sectors, their availability as a marine fuel remains limited. Scaling up biofuel production and establishing robust supply chains are imperative to ensure wider availability within the shipping industry.Hydrogen, as a fuel for maritime applications, is still in the early stages of infrastructure development. While some hydrogen vessels have been tested or introduced in the first quarter of last year, the infrastructure required for hydrogen production and distribution needs further advancement.
Ammonia, as a marine fuel, currently faces limitations in availability. The production, storage, and handling infrastructure for ammonia need further development to support its widespread use in the shipping industry.Methanol, on the other hand, is already a commercially available fuel and has been used as a blend with conventional fuels in some ships. However, its availability as a standalone marine fuel can still be limited in certain regions. Bureau Veritas in October 2022 published a White Paper for the Alternative Fuels Outlook. This white paper provides a comprehensive overview of alternative fuels for the shipping industry, taking into account key factors such as technological maturity, availability, safety, emissions, and regulations.
Creating a sustainable world requires us to embark on a journey towards a zero emission future, where every step is a commitment to preserve our planet for future generations.
Albert Greenway
Environmental Scientist, Sustainability Expert
Increased Use of Renewable Energy:
Shipping companies are embracing renewable energy sources to power onboard systems and reduce emissions during port operations. Solar panels and wind turbines are being installed on vessels to generate clean energy, reducing reliance on auxiliary engines, and cutting down emissions. Shore power facilities in ports allow ships to connect to the electrical grid, eliminating the need for onboard generators while docked.
Collaboration and Industry Partnerships:
Recognizing that addressing emissions requires collective action, shipping companies, governments, and organizations have formed partnerships and collaborations. These initiatives focus on research and development, sharing best practices, and promoting knowledge transfer. Joint projects aim to develop and deploy innovative technologies, improve infrastructure, and create a supportive regulatory framework to accelerate the industry's transition towards a greener future. The Zero Emission Shipping - Mission Innovation.
To pave the way for a greener future in shipping, the availability of alternative fuels plays a vital role in their widespread adoption. However, this availability is influenced by factors such as port infrastructure, local regulations, and government policies. As the demand for cleaner fuels in shipping rises and environmental regulations become more stringent, efforts are underway to improve the accessibility of these fuels through infrastructure development, collaborations, and investments in production facilities.
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure has seen significant growth in recent years, resulting in more LNG bunkering facilities and LNG-powered vessels. Nonetheless, the availability of LNG as a marine fuel can still vary depending on the region. To ensure consistent availability worldwide, there is a need for further development of LNG supply chains and infrastructure. For biofuels, their availability hinges on production capacity and the availability of feedstock. Although biofuels are being produced and utilized in various sectors, their availability as a marine fuel remains limited. Scaling up biofuel production and establishing robust supply chains are imperative to ensure wider availability within the shipping industry.Hydrogen, as a fuel for maritime applications, is still in the early stages of infrastructure development. While some hydrogen vessels have been tested or introduced in the first quarter of last year, the infrastructure required for hydrogen production and distribution needs further advancement.
Ammonia, as a marine fuel, currently faces limitations in availability. The production, storage, and handling infrastructure for ammonia need further development to support its widespread use in the shipping industry.Methanol, on the other hand, is already a commercially available fuel and has been used as a blend with conventional fuels in some ships. However, its availability as a standalone marine fuel can still be limited in certain regions. Bureau Veritas in October 2022 published a White Paper for the Alternative Fuels Outlook. This white paper provides a comprehensive overview of alternative fuels for the shipping industry, taking into account key factors such as technological maturity, availability, safety, emissions, and regulations.
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