Container terminals at Tan Cang Cat Lai Port in Ho Chi Minh City, South Vietnam, have suspended container imports in a bid to clear a backlog caused by a COVID-19 outbreak in the area.
Local terminals Terminal Cat Lai and Tan Cang – Cai Mep International Terminal (TCIT) will temporarily halt import of containers of customers and companies whose production activities have already been suspended or halted, shipping line Hapag-Lloyd said in a recent update.
The port is suffering from a severe staff shortage following a surge in COVID-19 cases in the region.
There will be a temporary suspension of import reefer containers for cargo which needs to be unstuffed and stuffed into other containers at the terminal until August 16, 2021, the company added.
From August 5, 2021 until further notice, temporary suspension of receiving cargoes that occupy ample space at yards – such as the oversized, overweight cargo, project cargo, and Out Of Gauge (OOG) cargo, among others.
There will also be a limitation to import containers that are unloaded onto the container yard.
In a worst-case scenario, when the container yard’s storage capacity reaches the maximum allowable level, the terminal will stop receiving inbound vessels, Hapag-Lloyd added.
To circumvent delays, Hapag-Lloyd is offering a transshipment service, transporting goods from Vung Tau to Cat Lai, subject to final approval by Cat Lai Terminal.
“For any cargo destined to Cat Lai, the customer must provide a Letter of Indemnity (LOI) to pick up cargo within 72 hours after cargo arrival at Cat Lai,” the company wrote.
“If business or production has been temporarily suspended, the terminal reserves the right to move containers to other terminals or Inland Container Depots (ICD) instead, always ensuring close communication with Hapag-Lloyd and their customers.
“Any costs as a result thereof will be to the account of the cargo owner,” Hapag-Lloyd added.
