Blank Sailings and ocean services
14th April, 2020
To our valued customers,
While airfreight services continue to be reduced with the border restrictions, it is important to be aware that sea freight services are being affected by carriers running blank sailings to Australia. Blank sailings are when a shipping line elects to omit a particular port or withdraw a vessel from a particular service for the week. It will affect both southbound and northbound services.
Traditionally run by carriers from China during the New Year’s holiday period where the factories are closed, this was continued during the coronavirus shut down. Now with the Chinese factories re-opening, it is the reduced demand at destination that is inciting the carriers to continue. Blank sailings have another effect which is reduced supply and therefore a way to stop downward pressure on rates. Reports indicate that carriers have cancelled at least 212 sailings over the next 3 months – globally – in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
We have been made aware of some carriers who are completely cancelling one of their routes until at least June, others are withdrawing vessels on an ad-hoc basis. Because of the changing nature of the Government plans at destination, the carriers do not have to currently give 30 days’ notice of blank sailings – meaning that its critically important to keep at least 2-4 week buffer on all of your current vessel plans. The blank sailings can also affect the transit time of vessels that do depart as the carriers will add ports to a sailing to make up for what might have been missed from a previous blank sailing. Our team is working closely with our key carriers and agents to identify routes of concern and make adjustments as quickly as possible.
If you have any urgent orders – please alert your customer service team member as early as possible so that we can try and ensure that we have it booked on the best available service.
Outside of this, vessels are still required to remain on water for the mandatory 14 day Quarantine period (NZ, Pacific Islands and PNG excepted) – meaning that no vessel – to any port – will be serviced unless they have been on the open water for 14 day minimum and confirm there is no illness on board. There has also been an issue in Sydney of a terminal being closed because of a Covid-19 case and delays in re-opening. Vessels were redirected to an alternative terminal which caused issues over the Easter long weekend.
Please get in touch with sales@sccargo.com.au should you require any further details.
