Congestion at the Port of Durban, one of South Africa’s largest container ports, has continued to worsen. Since late July, vessel queues, berth operations, and landside cargo flows have all come under increasing pressure. Average anchorage time at Durban Gateway Terminal (DGT) reached 80 hours in July, while 28 vessels were at anchor across the port on July 31. For freight forwarders worldwide, the impact has spread beyond delayed berthing to port-call schedules and cargo transshipment arrangements.

Key Highlights

• 80-hour anchorage waits: Average anchorage time at DGT reached 80 hours in July.

• 28 vessels at anchor: The number of vessels at anchor across the port reached 28 on July 31.

• Terminal throughput declines: DGT throughput fell by approximately 24% in late July.

• Maersk and CMA CGM revise port calls: The next two eastbound sailings on the Safari service will omit Port Louis.

• Cargo transportation affected: Some shipments will be rerouted, increasing the risk of delays at the Port of Durban.

Congestion at the Port of Durban Intensifies

Operations were relatively smooth in early July, but congestion spread across the port toward the end of the month, significantly extending vessel waiting times. According to data from the Southern African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF), average anchorage time at DGT reached 80 hours in July, while average time at berth reached 106 hours. At Pier 1, vessels spent an average of 64 hours at berth and 65 hours at anchor. On July 31, 28 vessels were at anchor across the port, adding further pressure to waterside operations.

Meanwhile, DGT throughput fell by approximately 24% in late July, indicating that terminal operations had yet to fully recover. As vessels continued to queue, tugs, pilots, and terminal operating resources all came under greater pressure. For freight forwarders, this means that even after a vessel berths, cargo handling, container pickup, and onward transportation may continue to be affected.

Port Delays Force Changes to Liner Service Rotations

Delays at the Port of Durban are now affecting liner service rotations. According to South African media outlet Freight News, persistent delays at Durban have prompted Maersk and CMA CGM to cancel the next two eastbound Port Louis calls on their Safari service. As the vessels can no longer reach Port Louis as scheduled while still maintaining their planned arrivals at subsequent ports such as Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia, the carriers have had to revise their service arrangements.

This means that the congestion has moved beyond vessel waiting and is now forcing changes to service rotations. Port Louis- and island-bound cargo loaded in Durban will be rerouted via Tanjung Pelepas, while Far East-bound cargo scheduled to load at Port Louis will need to be rearranged according to the port of discharge and available alternatives. For freight forwarders with confirmed bookings, the assigned vessel, ports of call, and transshipment route may all change.

Landside Transportation Adds to Operational Pressure

The Port of Durban is facing more than waterside congestion. Terminal gates, roads surrounding the port, and truck operations are also under considerable pressure. Landside operating efficiency at Pier 1 was particularly affected toward the end of July. If vessel delays and landside transport bottlenecks occur at the same time, the period between a vessel’s arrival and the cargo actually leaving the port will be extended further.

The Southern African Association of Freight Forwarders also expects rail-related factors to affect operations at the Port of Durban over the coming weeks. The main rail corridor is scheduled to be shut down for maintenance from August 25 to September 2. If rail capacity declines further before port congestion has fully eased, pressure on container movements and inland transportation may continue to increase.

Freight Forwarders Face Rising Cargo Delay Risks

Current Seaexplorer data show that average vessel waiting time at the Port of Durban is approximately 3.25 days, while the average arrival delay is around 4.17 days and the average departure delay has reached 4.93 days. Although different data sources use different calculation methods, the overall trend is clear: vessel turnaround and port operations at Durban remain under considerable pressure.

Freight forwarders currently handling South African import and export cargo need to monitor more than whether vessels depart as scheduled. Actual berthing times, last-minute port omissions, transshipment arrangements, truck container pickups, and rail connections must also be closely tracked. For time-sensitive cargo in particular, freight forwarders should verify the latest carrier port-call schedules in advance and allow sufficient time for potential delays at Durban. If congestion continues, the impact may spread further to sailing schedules and final delivery.

Sources

Freight News, the Southern African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF), Seaexplorer, and other publicly available sources

Disclaimer

This article has been compiled from publicly available information and is intended solely for reference within the international logistics industry. For specific sailing schedules, port calls, and port arrangements, please refer to the latest notices issued by carriers and ports.