In light of the coronavirus outbreak, scrubbers installations in China may be delayed. At the same time, Ocean Network Express officially announced that container operations in Greater China continue to operate as normal, over the Lunar New Year holiday.
Despite that port and maritime authorities are on high alert across the global, Ocean Network Express highlighted that in all ports except the one in Wuhan, vessels are still maintaining their normal port calls and operations.
All ONE China offices will have staff available either on-site or via remote access in order to ensure operations continue to run smoothly throughout this exceptional period and to take bookings for future shipments.
…ONE noted.
In the meantime cargo operations at Wuhan port, have been suspended until further notice due to local quarantine restrictions.
Moreover, new bookings to and from Wuhan are also suspended, while ONE staff continues its efforts to liaise with customers who have Wuhan shipments already in progress, in order to find the most appropriate course of action for these.
Additionally, according to Reuters, shipping companies may face many delivery delays of vessels fitted with exhaust gas filtering equipment, slowing scrubbers’ installation after the coronavirus situation.
Specifically, Mitsui OSK Lines Executive claimed that workers may not return so soon to Chinese repair yards, where several vessels are waiting for scrubbers installation. Meaning that it may reduce the amount of the vessels’ availability or lead to a tighter shipping market. “Ships in drydock are reportedly lying idle without any work being carried out.”
Concluding, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha’s Executive Officer also said to Reuters that people were not allowed to enter or exit some areas where there are many repair docks in China.
See also
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