Hurricane Melissa Disrupts Caribbean Shipping: Port Closures, Vessel Diversions, and Supply Chain Impacts

Quick Situation Snapshot

Status: Cat 5; exceptionally low central pressure reported; major wind, rain, and surge risks for Jamaica, then SE Cuba and the SE/Central Bahamas.
Timing: Core passing near/over Jamaica late Mon–Tue, then toward SE Cuba Tue night and SE/Central Bahamas Wed.
Key hazards: 9–13 ft surge on Jamaica’s south coast (near/east of landfall), 15–30 in rain with local maxima higher, hurricane-force winds near the core.

Current Port and Shipping Conditions

Jamaica

Kingston Freeport Terminal suspended operations as of late Monday; vessel departures and truck gates remain closed until damage assessments are complete.
PAJ announced nationwide seaport closures; specific terminal handling statuses to be confirmed on reopening notices.
Port Authority of Jamaica reports significant storm surge on the south coast. NHC forecasts to 13 ft above normal tide.

Cuba and the Bahamas

Warnings are in effect for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguín.
Feeder services to Freeport (Bahamas) and Nassau may be curtailed pending weather clearance; check carrier advisories.
AIS tracking shows multiple liner vessels diverting south or delaying transits to avoid the storm corridor.

What Supply Chain Teams Can Do Now

Re-forecast ETAs using carrier advisories and port authority updates.
Validate event data—cross-check carrier feeds with AIS and terminal notices.
Prioritize high-value or time-critical cargo for early re-release once ports reopen.
Communicate proactively with customers to manage delivery expectations.
Plan for post-storm capacity constraints as vessels and containers reposition.

Operational Signals to Track Hourly

Official advisories & track/intensity updates (NHC/Met Service Jamaica).
National emergency updates (closures, curfews, road access) in Jamaica and the Bahamas.
Airport status for crew rotations and critical spares (NMIA Kingston, MBJ Montego Bay).
Terminal/port notices (Port Authority of Jamaica, Kingston hub operators) before dispatching drays.

Summary Table

Area / Function	Current Signal	Ops Implication	What to Decide Now
Jamaica (Island-wide)	Catastrophic wind/surge/flood risk; warnings active	Marine & landside disruptions likely; intermittent comms	Hold drays; switch to exception-only updates; split ETAs
Airports (Kingston / Montego Bay)	Temporary closures announced around storm passage	Flight disruptions for crew/urgent parts	Rebook crew moves; stage spares regionally
Kingston as Transshipment Hub	High probability of missed connections	Rollover risk; feeder/mainline reshuffle	Pre-authorize diversions; communicate re-stow options
SE Cuba → SE/Central Bahamas	Warning areas downstream on Tue–Wed	Ripple effects to feeder networks/ports	Review port cutoffs; move buffers earlier in the chain
Reefers / Time-Sensitive	Power and access constraints possible	Spoilage / SLA breach risk	Guarantee plugs; prioritize yard pulls post-reopen

Outlook and Broader Takeaway

Early forecasts indicate major Jamaican ports may resume limited operations within 3–5 days, followed by gradual reopening across the Bahamas by the end of the week.
Ripple effects are expected along US East Coast and Panama Canal routes as schedules compress and feeder capacity tightens.

A Note on Visibility

During disruptions, the goal isn’t “more updates”—it’s fewer surprises. Teams that standardize events, blend carrier + AIS + port signals, and auto-route exceptions cut noise and make faster calls. If you need real-time, explainable ETAs and shareable tracking that plug into ERP/TMS, a unified visibility layer like TRADLINX helps you keep ops aligned without turning every delay into an email thread.

References

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