Maersk adjusts transatlantic service amid growing congestion in Northern Europe

EUROPE – Maersk has changed its TA5 transatlantic shipping route, cutting Rotterdam from the schedule due to ongoing congestion at northern European ports.

The new route, which takes effect on June 25, will see vessels travel directly from Felixstowe in the UK to Hamburg in Germany.

The company cited “current operational constraints” as the main reason for the change, pointing to increasing difficulty in maintaining regular schedules across affected ports.

Rotterdam, Europe’s busiest container terminal, has faced weeks of disruption, causing major shipping lines to rethink routing strategies.

“This move is necessary to maintain reliability for our customers,” a Maersk spokesperson told Trans.Info.

The change comes weeks after Maersk introduced an inland congestion surcharge of €10 (US$11.49) per TEU in May. The fee affects all road, rail, barge, or intermodal transport serving both Rotterdam and Antwerp.

The company said this measure will stay in place “as long as needed” to support stable inland operations.

Long waits and broader industry struggles

Maersk is not alone. Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) recently alerted clients to longer transit times on two routes, linking the delays to “difficult market conditions” and bottlenecks across the supply chain.

Lloyd’s List Intelligence data showed that, in early June, 11 vessels were anchored outside Rotterdam waiting for berth space. At the same time, six ships waited off Hamburg, and five near Antwerp.

Antwerp, which avoided some earlier disruptions thanks to protests demanding improvements, is now seeing rising delays. According to Drewry, average waiting times at the port climbed from 32 hours in early April to 44 hours by late May.

That’s a 37% increase. Hamburg’s situation is even worse, with some carriers reporting delays of up to six days.

HMM and other Asian shipping lines have flagged similar concerns, adding that low water levels and port worker strikes are making things worse.

Analysts say the congestion is tied to a mix of factors including strong cargo demand, structural shifts in global shipping alliances following the breakup of the 2M alliance, and changing operational models such as the launch of the Gemini Cooperative.

Drewry’s latest outlook warns that the problems could last through the peak shipping season, which runs to the end of August. Unless market conditions improve in Asia and North America, more delays may follow.

Strong profits despite disruptions

While congestion continues, Maersk has posted solid financial results. In the first quarter of 2025, the company reported a profit of $1.3 billion. This marks a sevenfold increase compared to previous periods.

The group also doubled its spending on ships and infrastructure to $1.4 billion, choosing to invest despite challenges such as Red Sea disruptions.

Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc credited the gains to internal improvements and early-year economic strength. “We remain focused on delivering reliable service despite the current environment,” he said.

As congestion affects European ports and ripple effects spread through global supply chains, shipping companies face pressure to adjust quickly.

Maersk’s changes highlight the growing need for flexible planning and steady investment to keep goods moving.

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