Cyclone Arnab made landfall on India's eastern coastline, forcing the suspension or restriction of vessel-handling services at several major ports since the start of the week. The storm has added fresh disruption to a region already dealing with congestion from delayed vessel arrivals.

Which Ports Are Affected?

Visakhapatnam, a key feeder port for Maersk's east coast network and an important link for cargo moving through Kolkata, suspended all operations until further notice. Logistics provider Kuehne+Nagel flagged Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram and Krishnapatnam as ports under cyclone or storm warnings as Arnab approached. Authorities in Bangladesh also issued cautionary alerts for their ports as the storm brought gusty weather to the northern Bay of Bengal and surrounding coastal areas.

Storm Impact and Recovery

The cyclone brought large swells and gale-force winds across the region. According to reports, it claimed three lives in India's Andhra Pradesh state and caused significant damage to homes and utility infrastructure. A carrier official told industry media that Visakhapatnam terminals were gradually resuming operations in line with government guidance, noting that the suspension had been part of contingency planning ordered by authorities.

Congestion Already Building Before the Storm

Several Indian ports were already under operational strain before Arnab arrived, driven by vessel bunching linked to delayed arrivals from origin ports in Asia. A ship agent based in Visakhapatnam described the cyclone as an additional setback for supply chains already under pressure. Separately, Kuehne+Nagel reported average vessel waiting times of two days at terminals in Colombo, Sri Lanka, attributing this to ongoing transhipment congestion, missed feeder connections, vessel omissions and routing changes. This suggests that disruption in the region is not limited to the direct path of the cyclone.

Scale of Disruption Still Unclear

Industry sources believe the port suspensions will likely cause congestion and delays to cargo flow, but the full extent will not be known until terminals are fully back in operation. Visakhapatnam handled just over 300,000 teu in the year to September, a figure roughly in line with the same period last year, underscoring the port's role as a significant gateway for the region even as volumes have been relatively flat.

What This Means for Shippers and Cargo Owners

Shippers and freight forwarders moving cargo through India's east coast, particularly via Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram or Krishnapatnam, should expect potential delays as terminals resume normal operations and work through any backlog. Given that congestion in the region predates the cyclone, recovery times may be longer than usual once ports reopen fully. Those with cargo connecting through Kolkata via Visakhapatnam should check with carriers on revised schedules, as feeder services may be affected. Bookings into or out of Bangladeshi ports should also be monitored given the cautionary alerts issued there. More broadly, cargo owners routing shipments through Colombo for transhipment should factor in the reported vessel waiting times when planning onward connections. Close tracking of vessel schedules and proactive communication with carriers and agents will be important in the coming days as the scale of the disruption becomes clearer.

Sources: theloadstar.com