Weekly Logistics Briefing Key logistics updates for the week (Week 1 of December 2023)

A Yemeni Houthis spokesman said in a broadcast statement on December 3, "This morning, the Yemeni Navy carried out targeted operations against two Israeli ships". The two ships attacked are specified as Unity Explorer and Number 9. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the two ships were attacked and suffered minor damage. Bernhard Schult Ship Management, a British-based company that manages Number 9, confirmed that it was hit by a projectile while passing through the Bob Al Mandab Strait, but denied reports that the ship was in distress or could sink.

Cyclone Michaung, expected to hit Andhra Pradesh's coast, has led to an orange in Tamil Nadu. Winds may reach up to 100 km/h on Tuesday morning. Heavy rainfall is expected in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha until December 6. Over 100 trains in Tamil Nadu are canceled and all 4 Chennai sea ports gates has been closed due to heavy rain fall and strong wind.

The recent rail strikes in the UK have caused significant disruption across the country's rail network. These strikes, organized by the train drivers' union ASLEF, represent the second major industrial action within the same week. Earlier, 40,000 members of the RMT and TSSA unions had participated in strikes, affecting a large segment of the rail network. On the first day of the 48-hour strike, approximately half of Britain's rail lines were closed, impacting numerous members at Network Rail and 14 train operating companies. ASLEF's strikes are anticipated to cause major travel disruptions over the following week.

Flights resumed at Munich airport on Sunday, a day after they were suspended due to snowfall. But disruption to rail traffic in parts of southern Germany was set to continue. In total, 760 flights were affected, an airport spokesperson told AFP on Saturday. More than 40 centimetres (16 inches) of snow had fallen during the previous night, according to weather services, also paralysing rail traffic in the Bavarian capital and other parts of the region. Munich's main train station was closed all Saturday, long-distance trains were halted and the city's public transport suspended.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake, initially reported as 6.9, struck the south of the Philippines, leading to the issuance of a tsunami . The Philippines' Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs-7) confirmed the quake's magnitude and, as waves receded, lifted the tsunami early on Sunday, December 3. The earthquake triggered coastal evacuations in the Philippines and caused waves in Japan as well. No casualties or serious damage were initially reported in the Mindanao region, though some building damages were noted. Over 500 aftershocks were recorded, and Phivolcs advised caution as people resumed normal activities.

A winter storm in the Pacific Northwest of the United States brought strong winds and heavy snow, causing widespread power outages and blanketing the Cascade Range. The storm affected various areas, including Seattle, where thousands of people experienced power cuts. Puget Sound Energy reported 79 outages, impacting over 4,700 customers across a range of locations from Kitsap County to Olympia. It also led to significant snowfall in the Cascade Range, with forecasts from the National Weather Service indicating as much as 30 inches of snow in Oregon and Washington.

Glasgow Airport suspended all flights due to heavier than forecast snow. Met Office has issued yellow warnings through Saturday morning for Scotland and warn snowy conditions could affect roads and railways. Temperatures are tipped to continue to fall over the weekend, with several sporting events cancelled. Meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said it will be minus 3C or minus 4C for many towns and cities and said 'There'll be some snow showers continuing across south western Scotland throughout Saturday morning'.

In the Kerch Strait, a collision occurred involving three merchant ships during a severe storm, an incident that Russian maritime safety authorities had aimed to prevent by closing the strait to navigation through November 30. The Ukrainian Navy attributed the accident to a violation of water safety requirements, citing the neglect of security requirements by Russian forces. The Ukrainian Navy spokesman, Capt. Dmytro Pletenchuk, criticized the Russian authorities for disabling ship identification systems in the area, which makes it difficult to monitor compliance with international maritime law. The extent of the damage was not reported.

The FNMCV union, which represents Romania's state-run railway workers, is scheduled to go on a nationwide railway strike on November 29. The union calls for higher wages and additional investment in the railway sector. If the strike proceeds, it will affect the operation of railroads nationwide, and there is a high possibility of delays in railroad service, schedule changes, and cancellations.

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), along with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Nexus Association of Maritime Transport Operators (NAMTOP), have raised concerns over continuous extortion and harassment of truck drivers on port access roads. As a response, MWUN has threatened to declare industrial action if these issues are not immediately addressed. They have urged the Lagos State Government to intervene and regulate the behavior of the State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials.