Recently, frequent foggy weather along the U.S. Gulf Coast has significantly disrupted container shipping operations at the Port of Houston. According to JOC, reduced visibility has forced multiple shipping companies to temporarily alter port sequences, redirecting vessels originally scheduled for direct calls at Houston to Mobile, Alabama. While this adjustment is an unavoidable response to weather conditions, the short notice has left many shippers scrambling to meet export deadlines.

Houston, one of the busiest container ports on the U.S. Gulf Coast, is frequently plagued by fog during winter. This year's situation is particularly severe—latest data from Hapag-Lloyd shows vessels at Bayport Terminal experiencing wait times of up to 96 hours, while Barbours Cut Terminal has seen berthing delays of up to three hours. Compounding the issue, one gantry crane at Bayport is currently out of service, further slowing operational efficiency. Average storage times for imported full containers have reached 3.8 days and 3.6 days respectively, reflecting sustained pressure on overall terminal throughput.

Notably, this new “Mobile first, Houston later” calling pattern is becoming a temporary standard practice for some shipping lines. While it temporarily alleviates congestion in Houston, sudden changes pose significant challenges for exporters reliant on precise logistics schedules.

From an industry perspective, extreme weather disruptions to supply chains are becoming increasingly commonplace. Striking a balance between force majeure and operational resilience may be the next shared challenge for ports and carriers. For now, shippers would be wise to monitor vessel schedules proactively and build in extra buffer time to account for potential delays at Gulf of Mexico ports.