Agents and brokers are reporting operations are slowing down at Chinese ports and shipyards as the coronavirus takes its toll and the Lunar New Year holidays are extended, splash247 reports.
Despite an order from the Ministry of Transport urging port operators to keep ships moving, a lack of stevedores and truck drivers is slowing down vessel turnaround times, and storage yards are also beginning to clog up.
Monaco brokers Thurlestone Shipping noted in a panamax report to clients that a few port closures have been “threatened” across China due to the current coronavirus crisis, something that could potentially aid in holding up a few vessels as they wait to discharge.
Meanwhile, scrubber retrofits – already taking far longer than planned – are slipping further behind schedule. Splash understands around 40 boxships in China are now falling behind their redelivery schedules from having scrubbers installed.
ORIGINAL SOURCE: splash247.com PHOTO: Port of Ningbo Zhoushan, China’s busiest
