Cape Town's Port, already ranked least efficient in the world, is battling worsening congestion amid adverse weather and logistical challenges
The Port of Cape Town faces mounting congestion, compounded by adverse weather expected to disrupt operations further this week. Maersk, one of the key players in the shipping industry, warned customers that waiting times at the port remain dire, with delays of eight to ten days now common.
The port’s struggles have already forced adjustments to shipping schedules. Maersk announced that the One Responsibility, a vessel deployed on the SAECS Europe-South Africa service operated with Hapag-Lloyd and ONE, would bypass Cape Town entirely, sailing to Europe from Durban. Meanwhile, the One Resolution remains anchored off Cape Town, having arrived on Sunday, and the Santa Isabel has been moored there since 6 March. The Santa Clara is en route from Durban, expected to arrive tomorrow, adding to the backlog.
AIS tracking data highlights the ripple effects of these delays. On the India/Middle East-Africa Mesawa service, operated by Maersk and CMA CGM, vessels such as the Maersk Iyo have been rerouted to Coega to maintain schedule integrity. Export bookings from Cape Town will be reassigned to the Maersk Cubango, while import containers from Coega will be redirected to their intended destinations.
Port operations have been hampered by a litany of issues, including inclement weather, equipment failures, and resource shortages. The South Africa Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) identified strong winds as the primary constraint this week, alongside ongoing dredging and logistical inefficiencies. Between 3 and 9 March, the port handled 18,195 TEUs, but SAAFF forecasts throughput to drop by 19% to just 14,793 TEUs for the following week.
Criticism has mounted against Transnet, the state-owned operator of the Cape Town Container Terminal, for chronic underinvestment in South Africa’s logistics infrastructure. This neglect has left ports ill-equipped to handle growing demand or adapt to adverse conditions.
The Port of Cape Town now ranks poorly on Linerlytica's Port Congestion Watch, with a queue-to-berth ratio of 0.78, underscoring the systemic challenges facing South Africa’s maritime logistics sector.
