Maersk reinstates London Gateway empty restrictions

Maersk has confirmed a renewed suspension of empty container acceptance at London Gateway, with the terminal stopping returns from 12:00 GMT on Monday 2 November. Hauliers have been instructed to check authorised return locations before dispatching equipment, while disruption is expected to continue for most of the week.

The suspension follows an interruption in late October, when London Gateway stopped accepting empty containers from midday on 23 October before resuming normal returns at 12:00 on 26 October. Acceptance was restored for seven days before the latest restriction took effect, requiring transport operators to revise their arrangements again.

Maersk is directing hauliers to its MATS Online system for the latest empty return instructions. Where the system authorises an alternative, containers may be directed to Pentalver London Gateway, Tilbury, or Southampton, subject to available space and weather conditions at the receiving location.

The restriction concerns empty container acceptance rather than the complete closure of London Gateway. Laden container movements and the handling of other cargo categories involve separate terminal operations, while the return of shipping containers after unloading depends on the equipment instructions issued by the relevant carrier.

After an imported container reaches its destination, the goods are removed and the empty equipment must normally be returned to a location designated by the shipping line. The container can then be inspected, stored, repaired where necessary, or allocated to another movement, allowing the equipment to re-enter the wider shipping network.

The receiving location may be a marine terminal or an inland container depot, depending on the carrier’s operating arrangements. Each location has its own gate procedures, storage capacity, and

requirements for the equipment it can accept, making an authorised return instruction essential before a vehicle begins the journey.

When the nominated return point becomes unavailable, the vehicle carrying the container may need to travel to another location or retain the equipment until a suitable return arrangement is confirmed. Either outcome changes the transport movement after the customer’s cargo has been delivered and can affect the timing of subsequent collections.

Container hauliers commonly organise their work around a sequence of movements, linking import deliveries, empty returns, and export collections where practical. A change in the return depot can increase the distance travelled between jobs or require a vehicle to follow a different schedule, with the resulting effect depending on its location and the next planned movement.

The alternatives identified by Maersk cover different locations around the South East. Pentalver London Gateway provides an equipment handling option in the immediate port area, while Tilbury and Southampton involve different road journeys for operators serving customers near London Gateway. Their usefulness will depend on the specific return instruction and the receiving facility’s capacity.

Space availability is a practical constraint because empty containers occupy storage positions until they can be inspected, repositioned, or supplied for further use. An alternative depot receiving additional returns must manage those movements alongside its existing equipment inventory, vehicle arrivals, and collection activity.

Vehicle scheduling also becomes more complicated when drivers cannot assume that the original return point will remain available. A container may be ready for collection from a distribution centre, but the haulier still needs to establish where the equipment can be deposited before confirming the vehicle’s complete route.

The disruption can therefore extend beyond the marine terminal into inland distribution operations. Importers and freight forwarders arranging container deliveries may need to coordinate more closely with transport providers over unloading times, equipment collection, and the availability of an authorised destination for the subsequent return.

Where an empty container remains at a customer’s premises, it continues to occupy space and may require additional handling or storage arrangements. The applicable commercial terms depend on the individual shipping and transport agreements, including any arrangements covering equipment detention and delays outside the haulier’s control.

The earlier October interruption demonstrates how quickly the receiving arrangements can change. Maersk’s 26 October reopening instructions confirmed that vehicle booking slots were available again and advised hauliers to secure a booking before travelling to the terminal. The renewed suspension on 2 November replaces those arrangements for empty returns.

MATS Online provides the operational reference for hauliers working with Maersk equipment, allowing return instructions to be checked against the current acceptance position. The carrier has emphasised that alternative locations are available only where the system directs the return, with weather conditions and depot capacity potentially changing the options offered.

London Gateway forms part of the container transport network serving importers, exporters, warehouses, and distribution centres throughout the South East. Its role extends beyond the loading and unloading of ships because each container movement must also connect with road transport and the equipment management arrangements used by shipping lines.

The renewed restriction interrupts one of those connections at a time when operators are preparing transport schedules for the working week. The ability to return empty equipment determines when a haulier can complete one movement and release the vehicle for another, making accurate depot information important throughout the disruption.

Maersk expects the suspension to continue for most of the week and is monitoring conditions at London Gateway. Hauliers will need to follow the current authorised return instructions until the terminal confirms that normal empty acceptance has resumed.