UK Ports Suspend Operations Due to Dense Fog
Southampton and London Gateway ports experienced severe operational disruptions in mid-December due to adverse weather conditions. Southampton suspended all shipside operations on December 17 due to dense fog after experiencing several weather-related incidents over two weeks - such as a 50-hour pilot closure from December 5-7 and 12-hour stoppage on December 9. Furthermore, two hours' shipside work were stopped due to dense fog on December 13.
Weather disruptions exacerbated existing operational challenges at Southampton. On December 6, 15 containers fell overboard, prompting draft restrictions that worsened berth congestion. At Southampton, 7-day average vessel waiting times reached 1.2 days while yard utilization for dry containers reached 89% and 75% for reefers respectively; wind and rain forecast for the region as well. London Gateway Port reported 1 day 7-day vessel waiting times with IT outages, crane breakdowns and pilot station closures due to severe weather hampering operations over several weeks prior.
European Ports Address High Yard Utilization and Weather Delays
Continental European ports reported experiencing elevated operational pressures as a result of capacity restrictions and adverse weather. Antwerp recorded a 7-day average vessel waiting time of 1.06 days with 95% empty container utilization requiring urgent evacuation by December 21. Q913 yard utilization reached 70% reefers and critical levels for empties while Q869 operated at 80% capacity, all while Atlantic weather caused further delays over time.
Hamburg terminals remained under pressure with an average vessel waiting time of 1.24 days over seven days. Construction work since September has reduced berth capacity at CTA from 100% utilization to 100%, while yard utilization stood at 68%. Rotterdam terminals overall remained steady with both ECT yard (85% utilization) and MVII yard (98% utilization); Valencia and Barcelona experienced minor delays from adverse weather, with 7-day average vessel waiting times averaging 1.86 days and 1.33 days respectively.
Asian Ports Navigate Congestion Ahead of Chinese New Year
Southeast Asian container ports reported elevated vessel waiting times as the region neared Chinese New Year on January 29, 2026. Port Klang in Malaysia recorded an average waiting time of 1.91 days over seven days; congestion intensified due to high berthing demand, adverse weather and prior port closures, reaching 2-3 day delays with smaller vessels facing further complexity from regional feeder traffic - reaching 90% yard utilization by week 49.
Tanjung Pelepas reported an average vessel waiting time of 1.67 days per week; berthing conditions remain highly dynamic as new quay cranes and removal of old units continue. Vietnam's Haiphong port maintained relatively smooth operations with only 1 day per week waiting on average, though maintenance dredging at HICT was scheduled for December 2025 with completion by late January 2026.
North American Ports Experience Weather-Related Delays
Fog-related disruptions and capacity challenges were experienced across West Coast ports this past winter. Los Angeles reported an average vessel waiting time of 1.33 days with dense fog disrupting trucking operations early morning, leading to delays. APM Terminals reported appointments remained unchanged; however extended times should be expected. Vancouver experienced nearby flooding that temporarily disrupted port operations but didn't cause major impacts in terms of deliveries outside its facilities.
Maersk reported Transpacific Eastbound services achieved 94.6% on-time performance for West Coast arrivals and 88.1% performance for East Coast arrivals according to November 2025 SeaIntel data, but driver availability decreased due to stricter enforcement of English Language Proficiency requirements and new Commercial Driver's License standards. Short-term delays are anticipated throughout December due to railcar shortages and increased container volumes.
Prior to Chinese New Year, There Will Be Capacity Tightening Expected
Industry sources anticipate capacity constraints will exacerbate in the weeks leading up to Chinese New Year on January 29, 2026, as is typical during this seasonal period. Shippers should book early to secure space. Unlike previous years, 2025 ocean peak season saw US ports handle record 2.39 million TEUs in July while volumes decreased significantly between October and December; retailers ordered on shorter notice thus creating short-notice tenders and regional demand spikes that require predictive visibility and proactive planning for success.