Major container ports around the world experienced severe operational disruptions in late December 2025 due to severe weather conditions and capacity restrictions, with European and UK ports dealing with fog and wind effects while Asian and North American gateways had to manage congestion ahead of Chinese New Year peak season.
Port operations across the world were severely disrupted from 5-11 December 2025 by weather-related suspensions in South Africa, protests in Durban, flooding in Indonesia and congestion in Tanzania. Average vessel waiting times at some effected facilities, classed in the regional heavily disrupted portfolio as having been out of operation for 3 days or more due to labour shortages, maintenance needs or regional unrest, exceeded four days.
Between 25 November and 1 December 2025 the maritime domain witnessed 18 critical incidents from drug interdictions, to migrants and boat people being rescued, piracy attack vessels, explosion against tankers off Senegal and in Black Sea, and major drug seizures and boat people crises in Mediterranean and Turkish waters. Notably, explosions against tankers off Senegal and in the Black Sea, alongside crises affecting those coming through Euro waters due to crisis migration.