Japanese port damage

Maersk Line says it has suspended services for both exports and imports at Sendai, Onahama, and Hachinohe until further notice. It seems Sendai Port is closed for the time being with phone lines and other communication down and some rumours say that it has been almost completely destroyed.


However, as to be expected there are some slightly conflicting reports. Although one source says that fire and liquefaction has impacted some of the port areas within Chiba and Tokyo, Maersk has said that Tokyo “is safe”. Maersk adds that Yokohama, Nagoya, Kobe, Osaka and Hakata ports are likewise secure with no damage to the company’s handling equipment.


Despite the differing information, it seems that Tokyo and all ports south of Japan's capital were able to start operating again after shutting down for a short while following Friday's disaster, while the rest of the country's ports were being assessed for damage.


But as the New Zealand experience shows, aftershocks can still cause spectacular damage long after the original quake. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake shook eastern Japan on Tuesday, one of the most powerful aftershocks to hit the country since Friday's devastating earthquake.


A shortage of fuel is slowing down business and impacting shore facilities and handling equipment in the Kanto area, including Shimizu, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Tokyo, Chiba and Kisarazu (Kimitsu).


This last point may increase in importance, as the growing need to ship in aid may compete in priority with local fuel shortages and very cold weather in the heavily impacted north of the country.


A release by Maersk says that there are planned electricity outages in Tokyo and Yokohama as the Japanese government has decided to implement shutdowns in the Kanto area (including Tokyo and Yokohama) by splitting the area into five groups and rolling blackouts from one to three hours per day for each group. Maersk says, “We are investigating its impacts on terminals in Tokyo and Yokohama, and as of now, both these ports are open for export/import.”
(Source:http://www.portstrategy.com)