Singapore’s container ship snarl-up spills over into Malaysia

Around 20 container vessels are anchored in a cluster off Port Klang, on the western coast of Malaysia near Kuala Lumpur.

Both Klang and Singapore sit on the Strait of Malacca, a vital waterway that links Europe and the Middle East to East Asia.

Many vessels heading towards Asia are opting to travel around the southern tip of Africa, meaning they’re not able to refuel or unload cargo in the Middle East.

Port Klang is an important terminal, given its proximity to Kuala Lumpur, but a queue of this magnitude is rare, with ship-tracking images showing many vessels unloading at its berths.

Slots at Singapore and Tanjong Pelepas, a Malaysian port just across the border from the city state, also appear to be full, but there are fewer ships waiting off those terminals.

Congestion at the shipping terminals could last through August, analysts have said. Container vessel rates have surged as a result of the delays and re-routing.