Weekly Logistics Briefing Key logistics updates for the week (Week 3 of January 2024)

The Icelandic Meteorological Office confirmed during the morning of Jan. 14 that an eruption had begun, with a fissure opening southeast of Hagafell mountain. The southernmost part of the fissure was located approximately 900 meters from the town of Grindavik. The authorities had ordered that residents of Grindavik evacuate; the order will likely remain in place until at least Feb. 4. Currently, flights are operating normally at Keflavik International Airport (KEF). As of 09:09 on January 14, maintain orange alarm (Relaxed from Red (risk) state at the time of volcanic eruption and changed to Orange (warning))

The US and UK militaries launched strikes against multiple Houthi targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on Thursday. The strikes were from fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles. More than a dozen Houthi targets were hit by missiles fired from air, surface, and sub platforms and were chosen for their ability to degrade the Houthis’ continued attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. Air strikes began in Hodeida, the Red Sea off Yemen's west coast, explosions were also heard in Sana'a, Yemen's capital, which is controlled by Houthis.

Maersk said on Jan.10th it would ‘sidestep’ the Panama Canal and use freight rail to get cargo across Panama. Maersk told customers the OC1 would make use of a Panama “land bridge” via the rail network. Containers headed east will be unloaded at Balboa, while westbound boxes will be dropped off at Manzanillo. Maersk says it will also omit the port of Cartagena, an important transhipment hub in Colombia.

Over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend in 2024, severe winter storms in the United States led to the cancellation of over 1,000 flights and nearly 4,000 delays. Major airports like Chicago O’Hare, Denver International, and Seattle-Tacoma faced significant disruptions. Southwest and United Airlines were heavily affected, with a significant portion of their flights either delayed or canceled.

Algeria has recently imposed a ban on transshipment and transit operations through Moroccan ports. This decision, made by Algeria's Professional Association of Banks and Financial Institutions (ABEF), prohibits Algerian banks from providing financial services to businesses or individuals involved in the transport of goods transiting through Moroccan ports. This move is seen as an escalation in the ongoing diplomatic and economic dispute between Algeria and Morocco.

Due to extreme cold weather, passengers at the Edmonton International Airport experienced significant delays and cancellations. On a recent Friday, more than 24 incoming flights were delayed, and 13 arriving flights were canceled. The departure flights were also affected, with 11 flights delayed and eight canceled. The airport spokesperson cited the extreme weather conditions as the reason for these disruptions and advised passengers to check their flight status. Additionally, passengers on all of Edmonton's LRT lines faced longer waiting times due to the cold weather.

Armed men wearing masks reportedly boarded the vessel St Nikolas, close to the Omani port of Sohar, and ordered it to sail to an Iranian port. Iranian state media, quoting the navy, said the seizure was in retaliation for the ship and oil it had aboard being confiscated by the US last year. The St Nikolas was in transit between the Iraqi port of Basra and its intended destination in Turkey. The US has called for the immediate release of the vessel and its crew, describing the seizure as the latest attempt by Iran to disrupt international commerce.

President Daniel Novoa declared a nationwide emergency and curfew from January 8 to at least March 8. According to this law, everyone should be indoors from 23:00 to 05:00 every day. Except for some required personnel and emergency workers and those who travel to and from the airport by air. This incident occurred when prison inmates detained prison guards and rioted after the powerful gang leader Macías escaped from prison last weekend. In Guayaquil, the largest city, arson, car bombings, and shootings killed 15 people, there was little traffic on the roads, and most shops and businesses were closed.

The labor union of Infraestructuras de Portugal, which is in charge of railway infrastructure management, is scheduled to strike January 10. Railway operator Comboios de Portugal said the strike is expected to seriously suspend train circulation across the country on Jan. 10 and could also affect Jan. 9 and Jan. 11.

The German Farmers' Union began protests across Germany from January 8 to January 15 to denounce the government's policy to phase out agricultural subsidies. Farmers are blocking highways and roads in major cities with tractors. Police say road and highway access roads have been blocked in many parts of the country, including several places that pass through the border with France.