Weekly Logistics Briefing Key logistics updates for the week (Week 4 of Mar 2025)

Heathrow Airport in London shut down completely on March 21 due to a power outage caused by a fire at an electrical substation. The fire incident led to the evacuation of residents and closure of Heathrow until midnight. Heathrow resumed normal operations on March 23; the shutdown affected over 200,000 passengers worldwide.

The Houthi movement in Yemen has launched a missile attack on Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport for the fourth time in three days, disrupting air travel and causing injuries. The attack was part of the Houthis' campaign to support Palestinians and protest Israeli aggression and US interference in Yemen. The missile was intercepted by Israeli air defense systems, but sirens sounded across Tel Aviv and surrounding areas, forcing inbound planes to circle the skies. The Houthis have also claimed to have attacked the US Navy in the Red Sea using drones and missiles. The escalation in tensions comes after US President Donald Trump threatened to "completely eliminate" the Houthis.

Approximately a dozen New York and New Jersey bridges have not been adequately inspected for potential collapse due to ship strikes similar to the incident that destroyed Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge last year. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicates a possible risk yet acknowledges that natural and artificial protections make such catastrophes unlikely. Key structures, including prominent crossings like the Verrazzano-Narrows, George Washington, and Brooklyn bridges, may face unknown collapse risks from vessel collisions as their designs predate modern safety standards. The NTSB urges bridge owners to assess and, if needed, mitigate the risk of ship collisions.

On March 24, baggage handlers will go on strike 24 hours a day at major airports in Italy. There may be no direct impact on the operation of cargo planes, but there may be disruptions in the overall operation of the airport, so it is necessary to monitor timely arrival and departure.

MSC Houston V, a container vessel, lost at least 15 containers overboard in the Atlantic Ocean off Portugal's coast due to rough seas and strong winds from Storm Martinho. Many remaining containers on board collapsed or were left dangling over the starboard side. The ship sought shelter at the Port of Vigo in Spain to wait out the storm. The vessel is currently berthed at Vigo's Termavi container terminal for assessment of the situation and container condition.

On March 19, protesting teachers caused significant disruptions at Mexico City's Benito Juarez International Airport. Thousands of demonstrators blocked roads leading to the airport terminals, forcing travelers to walk to catch their flights. The protest, lasting several hours, was against pension reforms and included setting up tents in the Zocalo, Mexico City's main square.

On March 20, Chicago's O'Hare Airport experienced a service outage in the Airport Transit System (ATS). The ATS, which transports passengers to various points including rental cars and economy parking, is temporarily out of service. Shuttle buses are providing necessary connections between economy parking, the Multi-Modal Facility, and all terminals. Travelers are advised to allow extra time due to the inconvenience.

On Tuesday afternoon, a coastal motor vessel named 'Venture' ran aground on the Elbe River near Hamburg, causing disruption to shipping traffic. The incident near the falkensteiner Ufer in Hamburg-Blankenese was reported around 4:00 PM. The Hamburg Port Authority confirmed the grounding, with no injuries or environmental pollution reported. Initial reports indicate a possible engine failure as a contributing factor. The port affected by the disruption is Hamburg (DEHAM).

On March 18, ONE INTEGRITY had reported a fire onboard While sailing from Cai Mep in Vietnam to Singapore. The fire has been extinguished after firefighting efforts by the crew and The vessel is proceeding to the port of Singapore. On March 21, the vessel will call at a layby berth for further inspection. The shipping company first confirmed that there was no cargo damage caused by the fire accident.

On March 17, lightning strikes caused a temporary halt of ground operations at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. Operations were halted from around 3 p.m. and resumed just before 4 p.m. No damage was reported, but significant flight rescheduling occurred due to the backlog.