Charleston, one of the most important US East Coast ports, risks coming to an operational standstill due to the increasing congestion problems it has been facing since last month.
Lloyd’s List reports that a dozen ships are currently in the outer harbour, waiting to come into the port. According to the Port Authority, the operational problems are partly due to the infrastructural upgrading of the port’s main terminal, the Wando Welch Terminal, whose quays are being modernized to allow for a seabed to be deepened to -16.5 metres.
The recent connection problems with the central server that the port suffered throughout May are also a contributing factor to the increased backlog, as terminal gates had to be closed several times last month.
In addition, the current difficulties the port is facing are against a backdrop of increasing congestion problems in the main Asian and European ports due to logistics chain disruptions caused by the Red Sea crisis.
Translation by Giles Foster
