It is known that the COVID-19 oubreak has negatively affected global shipping and many others sectors. Following the situation, Europeran Maritime Safety Agency issued a report to analyse the impact of the pandemic on certain shipping activities by analysing vessel traffic data.
According to EMSA, the report is based on solid vessel movements statistics showing the port call trends without interpreting the statistical data.
In fact, EMSA focuses mainly on EU ports and EU flagged ships, but there are also statistics about the shipping routes from Europe to China and from Europe to the US have been affected.
As explained, during January 2019, there were 53,035 ship calls at EU ports, and in January 2021 there were 49,908 ship calls. The number of calls decreased by 6% in comparison with 2019.
The table below shows the number of ship calls per month in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and the trends between 2020 and 2019 and between 2021 and 2019. It has been decided to use year 2019 as a reference since it was the last year without COVID-19 in Europe.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
As explained, the significant decrease in the number of ship calls began in week 12 (16-22 March 2020). This was the week after the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on 12 March 2020.
The graph above shows the comparison of the number of ship calls per month in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
“The COVID-19 outbreak is affecting the lives and work of people in the EU and all across the globe. Since the start of the pandemic, the Commission, the Member States and the shipping industry have been taking measures to ensure the continuity of operations and thus the security of supply”.
Explore more herebelow
