Suez canal stays open, ports congested

JocSailings - 

The Suez Canal remained open to ship transits Thursday and shipping companies are re-opening offices despite escalating violence in Cairo between supporters and opponents of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and a nationwide curfew.

"The Suez Canal is functioning without delays," Inchcape Shipping Services said in an update Thursday.

"However, ports are being hampered by a lack of labor and fuel for dockside equipment," the international marine services company said.

According to published reports from the region, many ships transiting the canal are not stopping for routine services or changing crews out of concern for the safety of their workers.

Container terminals are working between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., but there is congestion on the terminal side as containers are not being released.

Bulk operations are only taking place for non-direct delivery cargo, but oil and gas terminals are fully operational, Inchcape said.

With a curfew in place between 3 p.m. and 8 a.m., there are difficulties contacting offices of shipping companies and shipping agents. Inchcape said its staff is working from home with mobile phone and internet access.

A.P. Moller-Maersk said its Maersk Line, Safmarine and Damco offices re-opened Thursday after being shut for three days and there are limited vessel operations at the Suez Canal Container Terminal in Port Said, which is majority owned by its APM Terminals unit.

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