GLOBAL schedule reliability plunged from 63.9 per cent in 2020 to 35.8 per cent last year, according to a recent analysis from Sea-Intelligence.

The 2021 Global Liner Performance Report indicates these yearly schedule reliability figures are the lowest recorded, and a "staggering drop" from pre-pandemic levels, reports North Sydney's The Daily Cargo News.

Sea-Intelligence CEO Alan Murphy said the average delay for late vessel arrivals has been on an upward trend since the lowest delay of 3.19 days was recorded in 2016. "In 2021, the figure nearly touched the seven-day mark, reaching 6.86 days," he said.

"The average delay for all vessel arrivals recorded a sharp increase in 2020, and an even sharper increase in 2021, with the 2021 figure crossing the four-day mark for the first time."

Of the top 14 shipping lines, Maersk was identified as the most reliable carrier in 2021, with a schedule reliability of 46.4 per cent. Hamburg Sud was the second most reliable carrier, with a reliability of 40.9 per cent in 2021.

MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, Zim, and CMA CGM all recorded schedule reliability between 30 per cent and 40 per cent last year.

PIL, Cosco, ONE, HMM, Wan Hai, OOCL, and Yan Ming each recorded a schedule reliability of between 20 per cent and 30 per cent. Only Evergreen displayed a figure of below 20 per cent, recording a schedule reliability of 19.6 per cent.

None of the top 14 carriers recorded an increase on 2020 reliability figures, however several niche carriers have reportedly improved.

Streamlines, Geest Line, and ICL were the most reliable niche carriers in 2021, each recording schedule reliability figures of above 98 per cent. The remaining 11 niche carriers of the top 14 recorded schedule reliability between 50 per cent and 90 per cent.

On carrier alliances, the report identified 2M as the most reliable alliance in 2021, with a schedule reliability of 33.6 per cent. THE Alliance followed at 15.5 per cent and Ocean Alliance at 8.2 per cent. All three alliances recorded significant drops in schedule reliability since the previous year.

"Compared to the industry average, only 2M scored better than the industry, by 3.5 per cent, whereas Ocean Alliance recorded a substantial drop of minus 15.3 per cent," Mr Murphy said.

"In three of the four quarters of 2021, 2M performed better than the industry."

Mr Murphy said all six major East/West trade lanes had recorded double-digit declines in schedule reliability since 2020. In 2021, Asia-Europe and Asia-North America West Coast trade lanes recorded declines of over 40 per cent since the previous year.

"That said, apart from the Transatlantic Eastbound trade lane, none of the other trade lanes recorded a better reliability score in 2021 than the industry average, with both Transpacific trade lanes, and Asia-North Europe recording double-digit declines," Mr Murphy said.

"In terms of the delays, all six trade lanes follow the same general trend.

"In 2021, Asia-North America West Coast recorded the largest increase in the average delay for late vessels, crossing the 12-day mark, while Asia-North Europe was not far behind, having crossed the eight-day mark."

Source Shipping Gazette