Carriers warn of 20-day delays as congestion crisis at Durban worsens

Shipping lines are notifying customers that cargo delays at the Durban Gateway Terminal could reach 20 days as the facility struggles with severe operational constraints. According to The Loadstar, the situation at Pier 2 has deteriorated significantly, leaving some shipments arriving in mid-August still stationary within the terminal. Industry experts indicate that clearing the current backlog could take several weeks, provided that inbound vessel traffic does not increase.

The congestion is partly attributed to recent changes in terminal management and the introduction of new systems requiring staff retraining. Following a government decision to permit private investment in port operations, ICTSI acquired a minority stake in the terminal earlier this year. However, the transition has yet to resolve long-standing equipment inadequacies. One local forwarding professional described the current state of cargo movement at the gateway as a "shit show."

Broader geopolitical shifts are further straining South African maritime infrastructure. The redirection of global shipping traffic around the Cape, necessitated by disruptions in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, has concentrated a significant portion of global port congestion in the region. While authorities have extended free storage periods to accommodate the backlog, there is currently no clear timeline for a return to normal productivity levels at the port.