Dear Valued Customer, 

Due to the recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, we are raising awareness that our services and contracts are affected by this situation.  

Therefore, in conjunction with similar actions taken by ocean carriers, Blue World Line hereby provides this notice, in accordance with the clauses 11 and 12 of its bill of lading, of the necessary re-routing of some vessels currently sailing to and from the Port of Baltimore. 

Cargo currently at the terminals in Baltimore will remain at the port until further notice and imports originally set to call the port of Baltimore have been rerouted to other US East Coast ports.  

JAS Worldwide, as agent for Blue World Line, is taking all necessary steps to preserve its transportation services for our customers and to mitigate the impact of this situation on your shipments. 

Lastly, this disruption will continue to impact our services along the east coast of the United States and drive booking and routing changes on both imports and exports calling the port of Baltimore.  We will continue our best efforts to keep you updated on the status of your shipments and any developments as they happen.  

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this difficult situation, and we will keep you updated on any additional developments. Please check back often at www.jas.com for the latest news. 

For any questions and concerns, please contact your local JAS office.  

Current Situation  

The ongoing Red Sea container shipping crisis, now in its fifteenth week, has not changed much since the last update, and a clear normalcy timeline remains uncertain; as we have witnessed, attacks have continued throughout this past week. Shippers and industry stakeholders should brace for continued disruptions and higher costs and adapt strategies accordingly. The coming weeks will be crucial for interpreting the outcome of the IMO meeting and its potential impact on the situation. 

Industry Insights, Facts & Market Developments

Below are some additional key facts and market developments surrounding the situation, including a timeline of major events.  

• Drewry's WCI Spot Index shows a continuing decline in rates week over week. However, Asia to Europe rates have not decreased as fast as in previous weeks. 
• US CENTCOM continues to report successful engagement and destruction of a variety of drones, missiles, and drone boats, as well as drones on land before they are ever utilized. In the last few days, four more drones have been shot down. 
• Houthis claimed attacks on multiple vessels during the last week; however, vessel operators have refuted these claims from the Houthis and said no container vessels have been attacked directly.  
• Sea-Intelligence is showing a small improvement in schedule reliability and delays, however performance is still poor. The new normal of transiting around the Cape of Good Hope is becoming more stable, and further improvements are expected in the coming months. 
• As per the IMO’s Maritime security update on the Red Sea crisis and international response efforts dated March 29th, the IMO continues down the path of diplomacy to help stabilize the situation. The IMO reports they are actively involved in a long-term capacity building project in the Red Sea and that the EU is funding a 4-year project aimed at enhancing port security and fostering regional dialogue to address the underlying security concerns.  ‍

Our Commitment‍

JAS Worldwide will continue to monitor the situation and keep you duly updated. Our public website update will occur once per week, every Friday.  

For any more detailed and / or shipment specific information, or alternative solutions, please contact your local JAS office. 

After a cargo ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday, leading to its subsequent collapse, efforts to clear the debris have begun.

As of today, March 29th, the operational situation at the port is as follows: a crane has arrived at the site of the collapse to begin removing debris and clearing the wreckage from the channel, with another expected to arrive tomorrow. Additionally, three heavy lift vessels are routed to the site to assist in debris removal. Opening the port is a priority for workers; however, the timeline for clearing the area between the two pillars that supported the bridge’s main span, necessary for reopening vessel traffic, remains unclear.

While vessel traffic remains suspended, truck processing at marine terminals is still operational. Any new cargo arrivals scheduled for the terminal are being redirected through alternative ports in the region, primarily Norfolk and New York.

The Port of Baltimore reports that the ships unable to leave include three bulk carriers, one car carrier, two general cargo ships, one oil/chemical tanker, and three logistics naval vessels.

One Ocean Carrier has declared Force Majeure, CMA CGM, while the remaining advised they have stopped accepting bookings From, to/via Baltimore, and all cargo in transit will be re-routed. Information regarding active bookings via Baltimore will come from your local JAS offices, and all new bookings will be handled via alternative ports. For more details, please reach out to your JAS local office.  

For further detailed information and /or shipment specific information, or alternative solutions, please contact your local JAS office.

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland—the fifth busiest container port on the US East Coast—will cause significant disruptions for US importers and exporters. Due to the hazardous and unstable conditions of the bridge the number of casualties remains indeterminate. However, more important than the obvious business disruptions are the lives affected by this unforeseen tragedy. JAS’s thoughts are with the people, families, and companies impacted as rescue teams work to secure the hazardous and unstable conditions of the bridge.

According to the Maryland Port Administration, “vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore is suspended until further notice.” As such, multiple merchant vessels, bulk carriers, and a vehicle carrier are now stuck in limbo within the Port of Baltimore. Cargo already gated into Baltimore terminals must be shifted to alternative ports, where possible, or await the uncertain reopening of the Port.

The next vessels currently scheduled to call the port are for Thursday, March 28th. This information should be seen as dynamic, with high possibilities to change. Shippers with cargo tied to these vessels will need to make alternate arrangements for cargo handling and discharge. Operational restrictions by carriers may impact cargo owners request for diversion and / or termination. Carriers may equally choose offloads at ‘next port of call’ which may be instituted based on terms and conditions in the governing bill of lading.

Due to the indefinite closure of the Baltimore port, a shift to Norfolk, Philadelphia, and / or New York/New Jersey might be an option. The sudden shift of cargo to neighboring ports, primarily Norfolk and New York/New Jersey, will likely lead to increased volume handling in these ports. While there will be bottleneck effects and delays in cargo processing, historical volume data suggests that Norfolk and New York/New Jersey have sufficient capacity to handle the spill-over from Baltimore.

JAS Teams are available to drive collaboration, swift adaptation, and transparent communication among all stakeholders impacted to minimize disruptions and ensure the smooth flow of goods. Stay tuned for further updates and guidance as the situation develops. For any more detailed and / or shipment specific information, or alternative solutions, please contact your local JAS office.

Current Situation  

The ongoing Red Sea container shipping crisis, now in its fourteenth week, shows tentative signs of potential progress through diplomatic efforts and the IMO meeting. However, concrete actions and a clear normalcy timeline remain uncertain; as we have witnessed, attacks have continued throughout this past week. Shippers and industry stakeholders should brace for continued disruptions and adapt strategies accordingly. The coming weeks will be crucial for interpreting the outcome of the IMO meeting and its potential impact on the situation. 

Industry Insights, Facts & Market Developments 

Below are some additional key facts and market developments surrounding the situation, including a timeline of major events.  

• Drewry's WCI Composite Index shows a continuing decline of 5% week over week. Drewry also recognized a trade specific decline from Asia to North Europe and the Mediterranean of 8%, whereas freight rates on transatlantic registered a 2% increase West and Eastbound this past week.  
• US CENTCOM continues to report successful engagement and destruction of a variety of drones, missiles, and drone boats, as well as drones on land; before they are ever utilized. Avoiding the launch of attacks has become the new 'normal.’' 
• US Maritime Administration outlined the most pressing threats for US affiliated vessels in their latest advisory, accounting for 47 attacks and one seizure during the crisis. The advisory also warns that the geographical scope for threats is much larger in scale than the Red Sea.  
• UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations) reported various vessel attacks as well as attempts in the past week.  
• Media reported widely today that potential deals being worked on between the Houthis with Russia and China. While details are not clear nor substantiated, this would heighten the geopolitical distress. 
• The International Maritime Organization (IMO) convened a virtual emergency meeting on March 18th to discuss potential solutions for safe passage through the Red Sea. Specific details and proposed actions are still pending. The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), addressing environmental issues under IMO's remit, also discussed the challenging efforts finding angles to assist regarding the sunken MV 'Rubymar'.  

Our Commitment

JAS Worldwide will continue to monitor the situation and keep you duly updated. Our public website update will occur once per week, every Friday.  

For any more detailed and / or shipment specific information, or alternative solutions, please contact your local JAS office.  

Current Situation  

The Red Sea crisis enters its thirteenth week with escalating concerns about extended delays and widespread disruptions impacting the global container shipping network. Terminations of voyages and congestion surges at regional port terminals are happening with short notice, further complicating logistics. The underlying geopolitical tensions continue to cloud the situation, hindering a swift resolution. 

Industry Insights, Facts & Market Developments

Below are some additional key facts and market developments surrounding the situation, including a timeline of major events.  

• Drewry's WCI composite index shows a further but slowed decline of 4% this week. Drewry expects spot rates ex-China to continue declining in the coming weeks, whereas freight rates on transatlantic will remain stable.  
• US CENTCOM continues to report successful engagement and destruction of a variety of drones, missiles, and drone boats, drones on land before they are being utilized. While successful engagement is cited, the past week has seen one of the largest and heaviest number of attacks from the Houthi militia. 
• UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations) reported today that a vessel has been struck by a missile causing damage, the vessel continued its voyage and the crew reported being safe.  
• This past week has seen the highest number of attacks on commercial merchant vessels, container and breakbulk/conventional ships alike.  
• The European Union (EU) expresses growing concern about the impact of the Red Sea Crisis on global supply chains and calls for a diplomatic solution. 
• The Yemeni government accuses the Houthi militia of obstructing potential solutions to ensure safe passages in the Red Sea. 
• Industry reports highlight a rise in insurance premiums for vessels traveling the Cape of Good Hope route due to the increased voyage time.  
• The Houthi militia has today stated their intent to increase the geographical scope of attacks and in addition, potentially use hypersonic missiles, which they claim to have access to. If true, this would lead to further escalation of the current situation.  

Our Commitment

JAS Worldwide will continue to monitor the situation and keep you duly updated. Our public website update will occur once per week, every Friday.  

For any more detailed and / or shipment specific information, or alternative solutions, please contact your local JAS office.  

Current Situation  ‍

This week, the Red Sea crisis and geopolitical situation in the region worsened. Week 12 saw the first sunken vessel, MV 'Rubymar', leaking fuel and fertilizer, along with the tragic deaths of 3 seafarers that served on the MV 'True Confidence' when the attack occurred in the Gulf of Aden. Industry associations are urging vessel diversions until safe passage is guaranteed. 

Industry Insights, Facts & Market Developments

Below are some additional key facts and market developments surrounding the situation, including a timeline of major events.  

• Drewry's WCI composite index has dropped another 6% this week, bringing the total decline to 9.23% over the past month. This decline is further emphasized by specific routes, with the Asia to North Europe index now witnessing an even further drop at 27% against its peak seven weeks ago, and the Asia to Mediterranean index experiencing another few points bringing the decrease from last week's 24% to 30% this week. 
• US CENTCOM continues to report successful engagement and destruction of a variety of drones, missiles, and drone boats, drones on land before they are utilized. Yet, nothing has led to a decrease in attacks.
• UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations) reported an incident 50 miles southeast of Yemen today, fortunately, the vessel involved
  was not struck and continued its journey safely.
• The MV' MSC Sky II' was attacked by two missiles on March 4th and continued its passage to Djibouti.
• The MV 'True Confidence', a bulk carrier, remains at drift in the neighboring Gulf of Aden with no crew on board since the hit by an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) on March 6th.

Our Commitment

JAS Worldwide will continue to monitor the situation and keep you duly updated. Our public website update will occur once per week, every Friday.  

For any more detailed and / or shipment specific information, or alternative solutions, please contact your local JAS office.

Current Situation  
While eleven weeks have passed since the Red Sea crisis began, the immediate situation remains tense and unpredictable. We continue to see a concerting uptick in attack frequency, highlighting the region's dynamic and volatile nature. The first vessel incident with an oil leak also impacting the environment has been registered.

Industry Insights, Facts & Market Developments 

Below are some additional key facts and market developments surrounding the situation, including a timeline of major events.  

• Drewry's WCI composite index has dropped another 2% this week, bringing the total decline to 9.23% over the past month. This decline is further emphasized by specific routes, with the Asia to North Europe index witnessing a 20% drop from its peak six weeks ago, and the Asia to Mediterranean index experiencing a 24% decrease. 
• Sea-Intelligence reliability data releasing January data points now indicated 51.6% of vessels are on time only. While expected, it is the lowest since September 2022. This results in an average delay of 6.01 days. 
• While CMA-CGM continues to route select vessels via the Suez, alliance partner COSCO Shipping also seems to be planning to resume using the Suez routing, given their latest schedule updates on upcoming voyages. 
• US CENTCOM reported successful engagement and destruction of a variety of drones, missiles, and drone boats before they were utilized.  
• UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations) reported multiple vessel attacks in the Bab al-Mandeb Straight in the past 48 hours. 
• The Yemeni Houthi militia claimed responsibility for the attack on the MV 'Rubymar' (dating back to February 18th). As of February 24th, the vessel remained anchored in the Red Sea, continuing to leak oil. The recorded oil slick was measured at 18 miles (29 kilometers) at the time. With the commodity being identified as fertilizer, environmental concerns and the risk of combustion and further pollution increased. Salvage options and the future of the vessel remain unclear.  

Our Commitment
JAS Worldwide will continue to monitor the situation and keep you duly updated. Our public website update will occur once per week, every Friday.  

For any more detailed and / or shipment specific information, or alternative solutions, please contact your local JAS office.

Current Situation  

Two and a half months into the crisis, the immediate risk situation in the Red Sea has not improved, and multiple new attacks with high frequency have been witnessed in the region this past week. The long-term impact on container shipping remains uncertain. Continued geopolitical tensions, logistical challenges, and potential for disruptions contribute to an environment of volatility. Shippers and industry stakeholders are advised to remain informed and adjust their strategies accordingly. 

Industry Insights, Facts & Market Developments 

Below are some additional key facts and market developments surrounding the situation, including a timeline of major events.  

• Drewry’s WCI composite index, indicates a further 2% decline compared to last week. It is important to note that although the Index has decreased, it is still significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels and the 10-year average.  
• Spot rates from the US East Coast to Asia begin to rise, mirroring the earlier increases observed on European and Mediterranean routes reported last week.  
• Both MSC and Maersk announced additional vessels to be deployed on their Transpacific service due to the extended Cape of Good Hope route. 
• Hapag Lloyd reported two days ago that the Red Sea and Suez Canal routes continue to be avoided. A shuttle service connecting Red Sea cargo via Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Europe, North America, and Latin America has been implemented.  
• CMA-CGM had one 16,000 TEU vessel complete its southbound transit two days ago with others clearly intending to plan to transit in the coming week. The same information seems to be reflected in the carriers’ official schedules.  
• Industry experts again urge shippers to review their insurance coverage for transit, cargo loss and General Average.  
• US CENTCOM successfully continued to conduct strikes against missile launchers on land, preventing use this past week. Counter activities included intercepting a drone submarine launched by the Houthis. 

Our commitment 

JAS Worldwide will continue to monitor the situation and keep you duly updated. Our public website update will occur once per week, every Friday.  

For any more detailed and/or shipment specific information, or alternative solutions, please contact your local JAS office.

Completing nine weeks of the Red Sea crisis, a tentative new normal emerges. While the timeline for re-routing through the region remains unclear, ocean carriers have largely adapted their schedules and ports of call, suggesting fewer operational disruptions on both primary and backhaul routes going forward. However, experts urge caution, emphasizing the inherent volatility of the situation and the potential for future flare-ups. 

Industry Insights, Facts & Market Developments 

Below are some additional key facts and market developments surrounding the situation.  

• Leading analysts predict a prolonged Red Sea closure, which could last through 2024. Shippers should remain vigilant for further supply/demand disruptions. The only remaining carriers who traverse the Red Sea are smaller Asian carriers. 
• The Houthi claim to be attacking only US, UK, and Israeli ships, but experts state this is rather subjective, and all ships are at risk in the Red Sea. 
• US CENTCOM successfully intercepted missiles launched by Houthis in the past week, as well as launching several counterattacks.  
• All major carriers continue to go around the Cape with extended Transit time and higher costs to follow. The supply chain has started to adjust to the new reality.  
• More information has come out on EU Operation Aspides, which is set to last for one year, be purely defensive in nature with no attacks on Yemeni soil, and based on Greece.  
• Hapag Lloyd is reducing their Operational Recovery Surcharge from US East and Gulf Coast to Asia effective February 16th, today, which was initially implemented February 5th only. While back haul related, a sign of relief. 
• Drewry’s WCI, released yesterday, indicated that from Asia to Europe and the Mediterranean, it continued to decline, but the pace of decline slowed compared to the past week.  
• Backhaul rates from Europe and the Mediterranean to Asia seem to be catching up, reacting to the crisis. Xeneta reported a 68% rise in North Europe to Asia and a 45% increase in Mediterranean rates since December 31st, 2023.  

Our Commitment 

JAS Worldwide will continue to monitor the situation and keep you duly updated. Our public website update will occur once per week, every Friday.  

For any more detailed and / or shipment specific information, or alternative solutions, please contact your local JAS office.  

Current Situation  

Eight weeks into the Red Sea crisis, a tentative new normal emerges. While the timeline for re-routing through the region remains unclear, ocean carriers have largely adapted their schedules and ports of call, suggesting fewer operational disruptions on both primary and backhaul routes going forward. However, experts urge caution, emphasizing the inherent volatility of the situation and the potential for future flare-ups.

Industry Insights, Facts & Market Developments
Below are some additional key facts and market developments surrounding the situation.  

• Leading analysts predict a prolonged Red Sea closure, which could last through 2024. Shippers should remain vigilant for further supply/demand disruptions.
• US CENTCOM successfully intercepted seven missiles and four drone boats before they could be used to target the shipping industry.
• Two attacks on commercial vessels occurred in the Gulf of Eden and Bab al-Mandeb since our last update, causing minor damage but no injuries.
• EU Operation Aspides expands under Italian leadership, adding a German frigate. They focus on intelligence, logistics, air warning, cyber, and communication support due to the "Information Warfare" dimension.
• Eastbound spot rates to North Europe and the Mediterranean continue softening slowly, while backhaul rates to Asia see a delayed increase. Rates remain above pre-crisis levels with surcharges in effect. Expect continued volatility.

Our commitment

JAS Worldwide will continue to monitor the situation and keep you duly updated. Our public website update will occur once per week, every Friday.  

For any more detailed and / or shipment specific information, or alternative solutions, please contact your local JAS office.  

Current Situation: 

Seven weeks into the crisis in the Red Sea, the situation remains critical and extremely dynamic. The containerized ocean carrier community started to announce network changes with more permanent routing changes around the Cape of Good Hope, with new transit times and an alteration of port calls. As more carriers get organized daily, we will see more of those actions being taken, which should bring a more consistent approach for the time being.  

• Since our last update, there have been several attacks carried out by the Houthis, as well as an increased risk of piracy attacks from Somalia to add to this crisis. The latest attack occurred on February 1^st on a UK flag tanker vessel, the “Marlin Luanda.”
• The conflict has also moved into land where US troops have been attacked, which causes further instability and uncertainty in the region. So far, the attacks from US and UK armies have not slowed down the attacks by the Houthis.
• US CENTCOM reported that daily air strikes have taken place on Houthi inland targets in Yemen, and this is expected to continue. 
• Leading maritime security firm Ambrey advised that Maritime security concerns continue to escalate in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and the Indian Ocean, with threats growing significantly more complex and widespread.  

Key Facts & Market Developments: 

Below are some key facts and market developments surrounding the situation.

• Carrier Hapag Lloyd, given the on going dangerous situation and current security concerns, will continue to divert all vessels until further notice.  
• Maersk Line Limited still states that transit through the Red Sea will be suspended until further notice. 
• Carrier CMA-CGM still shows no change to its transit policy; we highlight again the need to carefully monitor vessel sharing agreement carrier shipments that may continue to transit on the same vessels.
• Ocean Network Express (ONE) CEO Jeremy Nixon stated earlier this week that the ongoing attacks against commercial shipping will have a material impact on transit times on the Asia – Europe and Asia – US East Coast trade lanes at least through the second quarter of 2024.  
• Rate levels continue to be higher than pre-crisis with new charges being announced such as Equipment Imbalance surcharges, however minor softening on spot rates has also been seen in certain pockets. Rate development remains dynamic and volatile.  

Going Forward: 

JAS Worldwide will continue to monitor the situation and keep you duly updated. Our public website update will occur once per week, every Friday.  

For any more detailed and / or shipment specific information, or alternative solutions, please contact your local JAS office.