Transport times in sea freight between the Far East and Finland continue to be longer than usual go around the Cape of Good Hope due to unrest in the Suez Canal. This adds approximately three weeks. Container ships often depart late from Far Eastern ports because using the African route also slows down the return journey from Europe.
Congestion in container handling at European ports
Large container ships arrive simultaneously at European ports such as Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, and Gdansk. Ocean-going vessels are given a time window for unloading, but if the ship cannot be unloaded within the given time, it has to move aside and wait for a new unloading time.
There have been several short port strikes in Rotterdam, where port workers oppose increased automation. There have also been strikes in Hamburg where a two-day strike that halted port operations in the first half of March.
Feeder traffic to Finland
Feeder traffic from major container ports to Finland has also been affected for a long time due to port congestion. Feeders sometimes have to skip a European port entirely for a week to catch up with the schedule. Sometimes shipping companies also change the unloading port at short notice, for example, from Helsinki to Kotka.
Varova Sea Freight is constantly in contact with shipping companies that are trying to find ways to improve schedules.
At your service
Estimated arrival dates in Finland are updated in the MyVarova system as we receive information from shipping companies.
The Varova Sea Freight team assists with all transport orders and schedule-related matters: [email protected]
Varova’s sales team serves in freight pricing: [email protected]