Seaborne trade across nations remains disrupted even as Chinese ports resume operation. Countries like India and the US have restricted anchorage and quarantined vessels arriving their shores in a bid to control the spread of COVID-19.
China
China’s Fuzhou Container Terminals would remain open for business and there are no plans to dock vessels and quarantine them, clarified authorities. Prior news reports suggested that vessels from the US and Singapore would be allowed to enter only after completed a mandatory 14-day quarantine to curb the spread of COVID-19. Fuzhou Terminals is one of the biggest port in eastern China and is managed by PSA International. In China, most ports are running business as usual.
India
The Indian government has screened over 829 cargo vessels arriving from countries that are worst hit by COVID-19 including China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Iran and Japan. Screening had started 10-days ago at 12 major ports and 65 non-major ports. Cargo ships are being allowed at ports as of now, but sources believe, restrictions might be put in place anytime soon. Odisha’s, privately-run Gopalpur port has started quarantining vessels from virus-affected regions for 14 days.
US
Port Houston had suspended operations at two container terminals after a worker contracted COVID-19. The two ports, Bayport and Barbours terminals collectively handle two-thirds of all containerised cargo arriving from the US Gulf of Mexico. The two terminals were closed on Thursday and are expected to resume operation on Friday, March 20. The Houston Ship Channel houses more than 200 private terminals and six other public terminals which are running.