March vessel delays worse on Suez services

New data from CargoSmart shows Asia-U.S. East Coast services through the Suez had longer average arrival delays than services through the Panama Canal.    New data from the shipment management software provider CargoSmart shows that delays on sailings from Asia to the U.S. East Coast in March were less severe for vessels transiting through the Panama Canal versus those transiting the Suez Canal.
   A study of such moves, detailed in the April edition of CargoSmart’s Innovating newsletter, found that 42.1 percent of all-water Panama services were delayed more than 12 hours, and 18.3 percent were delayed more than 24 hours. However, 68.1 percent of Asia-U.S. East Coast sailings through the Suez were delayed more than 12 hours, and 44.7 percent were delayed more than 24 hours.
   CargoSmart did not include sailings for vessels that called at U.S. West Coast ports prior to arrival at U.S. East Coast ports.
   Among U.S. East Coast ports, average vessel delays were worse at Savannah (17.9 hours) and Norfolk (12.6 hours) for services using the Panama Canal. Norfolk (33.5 hours) and Charleston (30.4 hours) were the most affected on Suez services, though all six ports included in the study had average delays of 12 hours or more on Suez services, and all but Jacksonville had delays of 24 hours or more.
   Ports included in the study were New York/New Jersey, Savannah, Norfolk, Charleston, Jacksonville, and Miami.