Storm surge stalls East Asian terminals

The Loadstar notes that Typhoon Dolphin made landfall near Ningbo “yesterday”, adding a fresh wave of congestion to already‑busy Chinese ports. An estimated 2.4 million TEU of containerships are now queuing around mainland facilities, with Ningbo and Shanghai identified as the most severely impacted terminals.

Recent typhoons compound the backlog

The same outlet points out that Dolphin follows Typhoons Bavi and Noul, making it the third tropical system to strike China within a five‑week span and the strongest of the trio. The succession of storms has forced numerous vessels to seek refuge at sea, stretching berth availability and delaying cargo handling across the region.

Capacity shortfalls ripple to European trades

Seatrade Maritime News highlights that the cumulative delays have triggered a noticeable shortage of capacity on Europe‑bound services. Linerlytica, cited by the outlet, reports that container lines are now scrambling for space on the European legs of their networks as backlogs swell at Chinese terminals.

Carrier schedules adjust amid dwindling westbound demand

Journal of Commerce Maritime observes that carriers are pulling capacity from the westbound lane, where demand has softened. MSC, for example, will revert its India‑Europe “Himalaya Express” service to the traditional, shorter route with a late‑August sailing; five additional Asia‑Europe strings are slated to follow suit.

The publication also mentions that the RXO Curve index is registering renewed pressure on spot and contract truckload rates, reflecting shippers’ shift toward road transport as port congestion persists.

Broader supply‑chain disruption

Beyond the ports themselves, the JOC article reports extensive flooding caused by torrential rain accompanying Dolphin. Inland logistics networks have been hit, compounding delays for cargo that must traverse both coastal and inland routes to reach final destinations.

What this means for operators

Ship owners and charterers should anticipate extended anchorage times at Chinese ports and factor the 2.4 m TEU backlog into voyage planning. The shortage of outbound capacity on Europe‑Asia services may necessitate re‑routing or securing alternative feeder connections, while heightened truckload rates could increase door‑to‑door costs for shippers. Proactive communication with agents and flexibility in scheduling will be essential to mitigate the knock‑on effects of Dolphin’s impact.