Extreme sea conditions this week have rendered it too perilous for commercial ships to navigate the southern tip of Africa.
Violent storms off the South African coast have temporarily suspended vessel movements, aggravating supply chain delays already strained by detours around the Red Sea due to Houthi rebel attacks on commercial shipping.
The harsh weather around the Cape of Good Hope has compelled container lines to seek refuge from winds and waves reaching heights of over 33 feet. The high waves were caused by a powerful cyclone that swept through the region on Sunday, likely driven by abnormally low temperatures, according to LSEG’s weather team.
According to an advisory from shipping researchers at the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), no containerships have traversed the Cape since Monday July 15th. Additionally, ports in Texas remain closed following the landfall of Hurricane Beryl. LSEG uses daily transit and vessel location data to provide a comprehensive overview of shipping traffic.
There is a complete halt at the Cape of Good Hope for containerships traveling east and west. While there is no significant change in Red Sea traffic yet, several containerships have turned around or are waiting off the coast of Durban.
Another cyclone is expected to impact South Africa later this week, potentially extending the period of extremely rough seas. Currently, about 600 container ships rerouting around Africa could be affected by the severe weather.
The vessel diversions around the Red Sea since late November have added 10 days or more to the Europe-Asia voyage, disrupted vessel schedules, and stranded containers in various locations. Several ports in Asia and Europe are experiencing congestion as shipping volumes rise, with ships forced to anchor at sea for several days awaiting berths.
We will continue to monitor the situation, and as always, we will notify you of any impacted deliveries. Thank you for your continued support and understanding.
