Global shipping companies risk losing millions of dollars annually due to insufficient accounting for potential wind-related port delays. That’s according to a new study from the Marcura Intelligence data analytics team.
Using insights from 16,000+ global port calls, the study highlights locations where wind-related stoppages pose a consistent risk to efficient port operations and voyage execution, often with significant financial consequences.
From South America to China, and from Africa to New Zealand, Marcura’s analysis highlights real-world delays - some exceeding 30 days - and associated operational impacts such as additional harbour dues, mooring challenges, and tug requirements.
What follows is a snapshot of the findings, pinpointing some of the most delay-prone ports, their seasonal patterns, and the frequency of stoppages.
Download the complete study for the full analysis, including seasonal wind patterns, delay durations, and detailed summaries across high-risk ports.
What the team looked at
The study focused on identifying global regions and specific ports where wind conditions consistently disrupt berthing and cargo operations. To ensure accuracy, delays attributed only to generic “bad weather” were excluded unless wind was explicitly cited as the primary cause.
The aim was to provide a practical risk assessment of the areas most affected, factoring in seasonal patterns, time-of-day effects, and the operational consequences of stoppages and slowdowns caused by wind.
What the data showed
Analysis by the Marcura Intelligence team revealed notable regional differences in how often wind-related stoppages occur. The following chart shows the average number of calendar days per year during which operational disruptions were observed due to wind, broken down by region.
Ports in Asia and Africa are notably vulnerable, with delays extending into weeks and placing a material burden on vessel schedules and operating margins.
At the Port of Dafeng, for example, disruptions during the peak winter season have extended to more than three weeks. Similarly, at the Port of Moma, delays lasting as long as 30 days have been recorded.
The following chart shows data from a small selection of the ports analysed.
Download the full study here for the complete port-by-port analysis.
Why wind delays matter – the bottom line
Adverse wind conditions can impact arrival time in ports, lengthen the duration at berth during cargo loading and offloading, raise the risk of demurrage costs, and cause potential vessel and mooring rope damage. In some cases, it may also be deemed necessary to have a pilot and/or tug on standby while berthed alongside.
Wind-related delays can carry a significant financial impact.
At Veracruz, for example, Marcura has observed delays lasting up to 16 days, potentially resulting in six-figure disruptions once vessel hire and associated port costs are considered.
Scale that impact, even modestly, and the costs escalate very quickly.
Take a sample of 300 port calls, each facing an average of three days of wind-related delay. At a conservative rate of $10,500 per day, that’s the TCE-equivalent of $9.5 million worth of lost days.
This figure doesn’t take into account other potential costs including tugs, berth reallocation, or mooring-related damage. In addition, since berth dues are typically calculated based on the number of days a vessel stays in port, these delays not only impact earnings, but also lead to inflated port costs.
Underestimating these costs or failing to fully factor in potential delays during voyage planning can compromise profitability.
Mitigating Risk. How Marcura can help
Managing wind-related delays is crucial for vessel operators, charterers, and traders aiming to optimise operations and minimise financial risk.
Wind disruption is a fact of life in many regions, but Marcura’s PortLog platform helps users plan around it.
Drawing on a deep repository of historical data, PortLog flags high-risk ports, tracks wind delay patterns, and provides a weather-day budget to guide buffer planning, all within a single, intuitive interface.
Vessel operators, charterers and traders use this intelligence to anticipate seasonal risks, adjust unpaid time allowances, and build smarter, more resilient schedules.
New in PortLog PRO: Seasonality charts offer instant insight into un-paid time where bad weather is a factor, helping users visualise risk and prepare accordingly.
While PortLog can’t prevent disruption, it can help you stay ahead of it, giving commodity traders, charterers, and vessel operators a stronger foundation for planning, negotiation and risk management.
