CMA CGM will not call at the Port of Le Havre for three months due to heavy congestion and “a lack of productivity” on its services between Northern Europe and South America related to the ongoing effects of the Suez Canal obstruction.
In a statement, the carrier said it is unlikely the congestion and current “difficult environment” will improve in the summer period and that the suspension will begin with the ‘CMA CGM Jean Gabriel’ diverting to the Port of Rotterdam on 6 July 2021.
During these three months, rotation will be as follows: Rotterdam, London Gateway, Hamburg, Antwerp, Caucedo, Cartagena, Manzanillo, Buenaventura, Posorja, Callao, Puerto Angamos, San Antonio, Callao, Posorja, Manzanillo, Cartagena, Caucedo, Rotterdam.
When contacted by PTI, Haropa Ports, the maritime alliance including the ports of Le Havre, Paris and Rouen, said it is not unusual for shipowners to cancel their calls because of a buildup of delay at other hubs.
“The port of Le Havre is the last North European port for exports and suffers from the cumulative delays in the ports that precede it,” it said.
“As shipowners have to book their passage to Panama, some are obliged to cancel their call at Le Havre.”
Ports in Europe have faced high levels of congestion since the obstruction of the Suez Canal in March 2021 and backlog of containerised goods.
