Severe Winter Weather Impacting Northern Europe

Update 4 - Severe Winter Weather Impacting Northern Europe

Following our previous update, extreme weather conditions continue to affect the port of Gdansk, with accumulated snow and ice as well as very low temperatures in the past weeks. This has led to restrictions at the terminal both for the landside and waterside operations.

On the landside operations, frozen equipment, together with snow and ice on the roads and railways, are restricting the delivery and collection of cargo. Truck slots are limited and fully booked, and trains are being delayed or cancelled. Waterside cargo operations are limited with reduced container moves per hour due to heavy snowfall and frozen equipment.

The combined effects of slow operations on the waterside and restrictions in evacuating the containers on the landside, have led to reduced the yard opening times, from the usual 7 days to now 5 days prior vessel ETA. This decision comes from the Baltic Hub Terminal Gdansk from and is meant to safeguard the terminal’s operability and ensure continuity of service. The Yard Opening Time is communicated on vessel basis on the Baltic Hub Terminal Website, where the terminal is also announcing additional information and updates on the restriction in slots.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation at this time. Our teams are working hard to minimise the impact on your supply chain and will communicate any new developments as soon as possible.

Should you have any questions, or require further assistance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your usual Maersk representative.

Update 3 - Severe Winter Weather Impacting Northern Europe

We are pleased to report that weather conditions have improved across most Northern Europe terminals, and recovery is progressing as expected.

Hamburg is still facing challenges, with slower turnaround due to high yard density and reduced crane productivity, but it is expected to recover by week 6. We advise customers to pick up import containers as soon as possible in order to alleviate congestion and advise using Bremerhaven or Wilhelmshaven to avoid delays.

Please reach out to your local customer experience representative to discuss options for your cargo.

We appreciate your patience and understanding through these winter weather challenges. We will communicate any new information with you as soon as possible.

Update 2 - Severe Winter Weather Disrupting Port of Hamburg Operations 

Severe winter weather continues to cause disruption across Northern Europe, and the weekend of 10-11 January 2026 is showing no signs of improvement. These conditions are significantly impacting operations at numerous ports in the region and disrupting inland transport networks, particularly in and around the Port of Hamburg.

As a result, the productivity of Hamburg terminals and depots is significantly reduced. Snow and icy road conditions are causing traffic congestion and delays for trucks. Rail services are also being affected by frozen track switches, leading to service disruptions and cancellations. Combined, these factors are contributing to longer waiting times for both import and export cargo, as well as increasing yard congestion at Hamburg terminals.

To help ease the pressure on Hamburg terminals and minimise further delays, we ask for your collaboration on the following:

Exports

• We strongly recommend booking from alternative ports that are operating more smoothly, such as Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, or Wilhelmshaven.
• When delivering containers to terminals, please ensure snow and ice are removed thoroughly for safety reasons.

Imports

• We expect multiple vessel omissions and instances where cargo will be discharged in Wilhelmshaven or Bremerhaven, resulting in significant delays before containers can be moved back into Hamburg. To minimise disruption, we highly recommend arranging direct pick-up from Wilhelmshaven or Bremerhaven whenever possible to mitigate delays to your supply chain.
• We strongly request early pick-up of import containers to reduce yard congestion.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during these challenging conditions. Our teams are working hard to minimise the impact on your supply chain and will communicate any new developments as soon as possible. Should you require assistance to transport your cargo to and from the terminal, our Inland Transport Solutions team are on hand.

Our teams are here to serve you, so please don’t hesitate to contact to your local Maersk representative should you have any questions.

Northern Europe is currently experiencing severe winter weather, including heavy snow, ice, and low temperatures. These conditions are affecting operations at key terminals, particularly in Rotterdam and Hamburg, and disrupting inland transport networks.

As a result, productivity at terminals and depots has been reduced, while snow and icy road conditions are causing traffic congestion and delays for trucks. Rail services are also being affected by frozen track switches, leading to service disruptions and cancellations. Combined, these factors are contributing to longer waiting times for both import and export cargo, as well as increasing yard congestion at several terminals.

To help ease the pressure on terminals and minimise the risk of further delays, we kindly ask that import containers are collected as early as possible. Prompt pick-up will support smoother operations and help reduce congestion across the network. When delivering containers to terminals, please ensure that snow and ice are removed as thoroughly as possible to allow for safe and efficient handling. If you require support moving cargo from the terminal to its final destination, our Inland Transport Solutions team remains available to assist.

Current inland conditions remain challenging. Trucking operations are experiencing longer waiting times at Hamburg terminals, with slower processing also reported in Antwerp and Rotterdam. On the rail side, services between Rotterdam and Venlo are being disrupted by track issues and train cancellations, while services between Rotterdam and Duisburg are operating with delays. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and share further updates as conditions evolve.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during these challenging conditions. Our teams are working hard to minimise the impact on your supply chain and we will communicate any new developments as soon as possible.

For any questions, Inland Transport Solutions or assistance, please contact your Maersk customer service representative.