Ships wait about 12 days off Durban as 39 vessels sit at anchor
Vessels waited about 12 days at Durban Gateway Terminal, with 39 ships at anchor and normal performance expected between December 2026 and February 2027.
Vessels waited about 12 days on average at Durban Gateway Terminal in South Africa, with 39 ships at anchor, eight of them bound for the terminal, Daily Maverick reported.
The terminal expects normal performance to return between December 2026 and February 2027, meaning pressure on container movement will persist in the coming months.
In a move to ease the impact on trade, Maersk extended the free time for import detention in Durban to five days through December 31.
Congestion at Durban affects regional supply chains, because the port is a main gateway for imports and exports for South Africa and neighbouring countries.
What do these terms mean?
Container terminal: a facility inside a port specialised in loading, unloading and storing containers.
Anchorage: an area near a port where ships wait their turn before berthing.
Detention fees: a charge paid by an importer that keeps a container or cargo longer than agreed.
Port of Durban: South Africa's largest port and a main gateway for regional trade.
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