On January 28, Maersk issued an urgent notice stating that ports across Southwest and Western Europe are experiencing severe operational disruptions due to extreme winter weather. Persistent blizzards and powerful storms have forced vessels to suspend voyages, docks to halt operations, or significantly reduce efficiency.

Currently, multiple terminals along the western Mediterranean coast have ceased operations entirely, with no clear timeline for resumption. Although weather conditions in parts of the Bay of Biscay have slightly improved, forecasts indicate a renewed deterioration this week, leaving the overall situation highly uncertain.

Inland transportation has also been severely impacted—snow and ice have congested roads leading to terminals, significantly extending wait times for inbound and outbound cargo. Yard congestion continues to mount, with noticeable bottlenecks emerging at some hubs.

Maersk stated that this weather disruption affects the entire shipping industry, with delays and temporary closures expected to persist over the coming days. To alleviate terminal congestion, the company advises customers to arrange early pickup of imported containers. This not only accelerates container turnover but also helps restore smooth operations across the entire logistics chain.

Maersk also emphasizes: When returning empty containers or delivering loaded export containers to terminals, ensure all snow and ice are thoroughly removed from both the container and chassis to prevent compromising loading/unloading safety and efficiency.