General

As shippers’ demand remains at a high level, supply chain bottlenecks continue to develop, port infrastructure is stretched, and inland transportation is approaching the overload level, shippers have almost no signs of relief in the short term. The impact of this hurricane is bound to aggravate shipping difficulties.

According to foreign media reports, last Sunday, Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana. It was a Category 4 hurricane with a wind speed of 130 knots. In the most affected area, the storm surge is estimated to be as high as 15 feet. The strongest storm to hit the state was the same date as Hurricane Katrina made landfall 16 years ago.

Since last Saturday afternoon, all ports in the Captain Harbor area of the Port of New Orleans have been closed except for the port of Venice, which is the outermost area of the Mississippi River Delta. In addition, merchant shipping on the Mississippi River between Lettersworth, Louisiana (200 miles upstream of New Orleans) and the mouth of the Mississippi River has ceased.

The Gulf Coast Waterway is also closed in affected areas.

The hurricane also caused floods and fires.

According to data provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the storm surge briefly caused the powerful Mississippi current to reverse. Water level records in Bell Chase, Louisiana, show that at approximately 1230 hours, the water level rose sharply by 6 feet and the flow rate was minus 10,700 cubic feet per second.

According to local media reports, this rare phenomenon lasted about 3 hours from start to finish, and at least had an unusual effect on shipping: the ferry in Chalmette, Louisiana, broke away from the tie. Start drifting upstream (rather than downstream).

Social media reported multiple shipwrecks, including at least two incidents that led to collisions. A bystander video shot in Saint Rose, Louisiana, seems to capture the moment when two separate OSVs collided in the Mississippi River.

In addition, the port of Fulchion, the main support center in the deep waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, has been hit hard and may be closed for several weeks.

In a shipping advisory report, the Port Authority stated that the waterways entering and leaving Fucun Port and the Laful River Bay were blocked by "many obstacles and shipwrecks." The Coastal Investigation Team of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is still on its way to the area to investigate the port and waterway, and the shipping industry is expected to experience delays.

The authorities recommend: "Ships should not attempt to enter or leave the port until the damage assessment by the Port Commission is completed and all cleared."

The authorities stated that it advised all others to stay away from the port area.

Many ports around the world are now reporting increased cargo volumes and shipping delays, and as the holiday logistics peak approaches, the situation may get worse before it improves, which will have a significant ripple effect on interest rate delays.

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