# Typhoon Dolphin Exacerbates Port Congestion in China – Waiting Times Up to 12 Days in Yangshan **Category:** Operational Alerts | **Source:** Frachtportal Redaktion | **Published:** 2026-08-13 | **Updated:** 2026-08-14 **Tags:** Taifun Dolphin, China, Shanghai, Yangshan, Ningbo, Containerhafen, Seefracht, Asien, Asia, Europe, Asien Europa, Blank Sailing, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Luftfracht, Digitalisierung > Typhoon Dolphin causes massive congestion in Shanghai and Ningbo. The consequences are expected to reach Europe with delayed vessels and equipment issues in due course. --- Typhoon Dolphin has further exacerbated the already strained situation at major container ports in eastern China. According to market research firm Linerlytica, approximately **2.4 million TEU of container ship capacity** was recently backed up in the vicinity of Chinese ports. Shanghai and Ningbo-Zhoushan are particularly affected. The typhoon struck China's east coast in Zhejiang, bringing strong winds and extreme rainfall. In Ningbo, port activities were gradually suspended starting August 7. The major Shanghai terminals **Yangshan and Waigaoqiao** also temporarily restricted container intake and discharge operations. Operations have since gradually resumed. However, the problem is not yet resolved. Vessels that departed before the storm or went into holding positions at sea are now returning almost simultaneously. At the same time, container backlogs at terminals must be cleared and shipping line schedules need to be rearranged. At individual berths of the deep-water port **Yangshan**, waiting times of up to **twelve days** are now being reported. Additionally, container delivery appointments are only partially available. For shippers in Europe, this disruption will likely only become visible with a time lag. A vessel departing several days late from Shanghai or Ningbo will arrive at Rotterdam, Hamburg, or other European ports correspondingly later. There is an additional compounding effect: delayed vessels will subsequently be missing from their next rotation. Shipping lines may attempt to recover schedules through skipped port calls or other operational adjustments. This also increases the risk of **rolled cargo** – containers that are not carried as planned and are rescheduled for a later departure. C.H. Robinson also warns of equipment shortages, delayed trucking, changed cut-off times, and problems with container returns and pickups. It could take several weeks before the situation fully normalizes. --- For dispatchers, this above all means: Do not simply treat ETD and ETA from Shanghai and Ningbo as fixed dates at present. For shipments in transit, it should be verified whether the booked vessel will actually call at the designated port and when the container was definitely loaded. A confirmed booking alone currently says little about the actual departure. For time-critical imports from China, it is also advisable to plan for additional buffer time. Delays become particularly critical when fixed rail, barge, or truck slots in Europe are already booked after ocean freight. Shippers should also watch out for potential additional costs. If containers are delivered earlier or held longer in the terminal due to delayed departures, storage, demurrage, or additional transport costs may arise. Equipment can also become a problem. If containers and vessels are not where they should be according to schedule, empty containers may be missing at other locations later. In short: The typhoon is over, but the actual logistics congestion is not yet. For China imports, delayed departures, schedule changes, and equipment problems should be expected in the coming weeks. --- Approximately 2.4 million TEU vessel capacity was tied up in congestion around Chinese ports. This concerns vessel capacity, not 2.4 million TEU of cargo actually waiting to be handled. Shanghai and Ningbo-Zhoushan are particularly affected. Ningbo suspended various port and container operations starting August 7, 2026. Yangshan and Waigaoqiao in Shanghai were also temporarily restricted. Shanghai terminals have since gradually resumed operations. At individual berths in Yangshan, waiting times of up to twelve days are being reported. C.H. Robinson expects aftereffects from vessel congestion, container backlogs, and equipment repositioning. According to market participants, full stabilization of operations could take several weeks. Skipped port calls and rolled cargo present elevated risk; widespread confirmed blank sailings have not yet been documented. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [China](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/cn) ### Seaports - [Gwangyang Hang (KR KAN)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/gwangyang-hang-port-kr-kan) - [Ningbo (CNNBO)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/ningbo-port-cnnbo) - [Shanghai (CNSGH)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/shanghai-port-cnsgh) ### Glossary - [Pickup](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/pickup) - [Container](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/container) - [Shipping company](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/shipping-company) - [Terminal](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/terminal) - [Goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/goods) - [Container Service Providers](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/container-service-providers) - [Container Detention](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/container-detention) - [Demurrage](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/demurrage-2) - [Detention](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/detention-2) - [container ship](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/container-ship) - [Port demurrage](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port-demurrage) - [Port detention](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port-detention) - [TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/teu-twenty-foot-equivalent-unit) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/taifun-dolphin-verschaerft-hafenstau-in-china-bis-zu-12-tage-wartezeit-in-yangshan-20260812091404](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/taifun-dolphin-verschaerft-hafenstau-in-china-bis-zu-12-tage-wartezeit-in-yangshan-20260812091404)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/taifun-dolphin-verschaerft-hafenstau-in-china-bis-zu-12-tage-wartezeit-in-yangshan-20260812091404](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/taifun-dolphin-verschaerft-hafenstau-in-china-bis-zu-12-tage-wartezeit-in-yangshan-20260812091404)*