Weekly Logistics Briefing Key logistics updates for the week (Week 4 of Dec 2024)

On December 21, the Kuala Mas container ship sank between Timor Island and Semau Island near Tenau Container Port in Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara Province. All 20 crew members, including the captain, were safely evacuated with no casualties reported. The incident resulted in an estimated loss of Rp70 billion. Some containers sank to the seabed, while others drifted to areas around Bolok and Tenau Ports. The ship initially collided with the Maritim Khatulistiwa tanker at 2:26 a.m. WITA, causing it to list before fully submerging by 8:30 a.m.

Israel Defense Forces launched an attack on Houthis and infrastructure in Yemen on December 19 in response to a 14-month attack. Houthi media is claiming that Israel launched four raids on the ports of Hodeida, Salif, and the oil terminal in the Ras Issa field. Israeli media is quoting military sources saying they believe all three ports were “paralyzed,” with the attacks including a focus on the tugs. Prior attacks focused on the port cranes.

The freight industry in Western Australia is expressing frustration over the upcoming Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) strikes at Fremantle Port during the Christmas and New Year period, which will disrupt the transportation of bulk goods such as grains, steel, and machinery. Scheduled to run from December 20 to January 2, the strikes will also impact operations at Port Kembla, Brisbane, Fremantle, and Darwin wharves managed by Qube. The union is demanding changes to scheduling rules that currently allow Qube to determine workers’ shifts as late as 4 PM the day before, while Qube has proposed an 18% wage increase over four years. According to an international supply chain expert, the industrial action is expected to significantly impact businesses. The union has accused Qube of neglecting concerns over safety, fatigue, and work-life balance, while Qube has dismissed the strikes as "attention-seeking."

British Airways has announced the suspension of flights between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi from March 30 to October 25, 2025, citing delays in the delivery of Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, which power its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. Passengers impacted by the suspension have several options: they can rebook for same-day travel with partner airlines, receive a full refund, or reschedule flights to Dubai at any time within the validity of their ticket. This is not the first disruption for British Airways, which has also reduced other long-haul routes in recent months due to ongoing technical challenges.

Railway workers belonging to the Confederation of Trade Unions (CGT) will go on strike across Spain. The strike periods are from December 23 at 00:01 to December 25 at 23:59. The purpose of the strike is to demand a salary increase and to criticize the railroad operator Iryo's attempt to ban the strike

The French railway union is scheduled to go on strike nationwide on December 20. Purpose of the strike is to denounce reform of freight and local express train (TER) services. The impact of the strike is not clear, but significant railway disruptions are expected nationwide (especially freight services and TER networks).

Boeing has restarted production of all its jet programs after a five-week strike involving 33,000 workers in the Pacific Northwest. The strike, which ended in early November, brought operations to a halt and limited the company to just 13 commercial jet deliveries for the month. Production of key jet models, including the 737, 767, and 777/777X, has now resumed. The strike added to Boeing’s challenges, which included a mid-flight door panel failure on a 737 MAX 9 in January, resulting in FAA-imposed production caps. Boeing has stated that its focus is now on delivering safe, high-quality airplanes to customers on schedule.

On December 17, vessel pilots suspended all maritime traffic on the Houston Ship Channel due to dense fog. The suspension began at 4:15 a.m. local time, affecting access to multiple refineries and oil-exporting terminals. Additionally, traffic for Galveston and Texas City ports was suspended at 1:15 a.m., and Freeport was closed at 10:00 p.m. on December 16.

A local strike by air traffic controllers in France is set to cause flight cancellations and delays at several airports on December 17, just before Christmas. Flights to Montpellier, Nîmes, and Perpignan will be canceled, while 60% of flights at Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport will be affected between 6 AM and 11 PM. The strike stems from air traffic controllers’ frustrations over ongoing negotiations regarding work organization plans for 2025.

TasPorts has temporarily closed Berth 5 at Burnie Port, located in Tasmania, after the Antarctic research vessel RSV Nuyina collided with the wharf on December 19 causing structural damage. The incident occurred during a berthing operation, prompting an immediate assessment and the subsequent closure of the berth to ensure safety. TasPorts is conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the collision and assess the extent of the damage. Repairs are underway, and the berth will remain closed until all safety concerns are addressed. Meanwhile, port operations are being adjusted to minimize disruptions to shipping activities.