Colombo Port congestion deepens as major shipping lines bypass calls
Colombo Port is facing escalating congestion, prompting several major international shipping lines to bypass Sri Lanka’s primary transshipment hub, according to a report.
Till October 17, about 15 vessels were reportedly waiting outside the port for clearance, though the number declined to 10 by October 21. A report by global logistics firm Kuehne+Nagel attributed the disruption to severe yard congestion, a surge in transshipment volumes, and unfavourable weather conditions.
Industry sources indicated that leading carriers, including Zim Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM) and Ocean Network Express (ONE), have temporarily rerouted services away from Colombo. ZIM has halted Indian bookings on its NIX (China–India Express) route, while ONE has issued a “Colombo skip” notice for its CIP (China–India–Pakistan) service.
