An IT failure is causing major disruption at Rotterdam’s Maasvlakte. ECT’s Delta and Euromax terminals have been brought to a standstill due to a network failure, the terminal operator reports.
As a result of the IT failure, all operational activities at both terminals have been suspended. It is not yet clear exactly how long the disruption will last. Based on the current situation, ECT does not expect the terminals to be operational again before 8.00 pm.
The IT failure is affecting two major container terminals on the Maasvlakte. As a result, containers cannot be handled as normal for the time being. For shipping lines, hauliers, shippers and freight forwarders, this may lead to delays in their schedules.
When terminal operations come to a standstill, this has an immediate knock-on effect on the logistics chain. Incoming containers may become available later than expected, and scheduled collections or deliveries may need to be adjusted. Disruptions can have rapid consequences, particularly for time-critical cargo.
The IT failure is not the only disruption at the Maasvlakte this week. APM Terminals Maasvlakte II had previously reported problems due to extreme heat. There were fears that cranes could be damaged because cooling systems were not functioning properly.
ECT also warned on Wednesday that extreme weather could cause technical disruptions. According to the terminal operator, this could affect productivity. The combination of heat and an IT failure highlights just how vulnerable terminal operations can be when technology, weather and planning all come into play.
Further information on container flows and terminal processes can be found on the pages about container handling, sea freight and the TOP Platform.
For companies that rely on the ECT terminals, the IT failure primarily means that planning needs to be reviewed. Lorries, inland waterway connections and onward transport may be delayed if containers become available later than expected.
Freight forwarders and logistics service providers will therefore need to inform customers about possible changes to arrival times, collection times and deliveries. Furthermore, once ECT resumes operations, a temporary backlog may arise that cannot be cleared immediately.
…an IT failure at a container terminal can have a direct impact on lorries, inland waterway transport, shipping lines and warehouses? A single terminal coming to a standstill can therefore affect the entire supply chain.