Global IT Outage Disrupts European Container Terminals

A global IT outage triggered by a software update from American cybersecurity technology company CrowdStrike has caused significant disruptions in several European container terminals, as reported by Container News. Affected terminals include Poland’s Baltic Hub, the UK’s Port of Felixstowe, and the Dutch Port of Rotterdam.

Baltic Hub Terminal:
On the morning of July 19, the Baltic Hub Terminal experienced operational disruptions due to an operating systems failure. The failure, described as global in nature, involved a third-party software provider used by Baltic Hub. Despite the challenges, the terminal reported that most of its systems have since been restored.

Port of Felixstowe:
The Port of Felixstowe encountered issues related to the CrowdStrike global IT outage at 05:40 on July 19. While the port faced initial disruptions, haulage operations have resumed, and efforts are underway to restore full operational capacity as soon as possible.

Port of Rotterdam:
Several companies within the Port of Rotterdam, including a container terminal, have been impacted by the global IT problem. The affected companies have adjusted their processes and are working on a solution. Despite these challenges, the vital process for handling maritime traffic in the port remains unaffected. The Harbour Master Division and nautical service providers continue to operate normally, ensuring that all crucial processes in the port proceed without interruption.

Port Statements:

• Baltic Hub Container Terminal: “The failure was global in nature and involved a third-party software provider used by Baltic Hub. The operation of most systems has been restored.”
• Port of Felixstowe: “We are working up to full capacity as soon as possible.”
• Port of Rotterdam Authority: “The vital process for handling maritime traffic in the port is unaffected by the IT disruption. The Harbour Master Division and nautical service providers remain operational, while all crucial processes in the port continue without interruption.”

The incident highlights the importance of robust IT infrastructure and contingency planning in maintaining the operational integrity of critical logistics hubs. Efforts are ongoing to fully restore functionality and mitigate any further impacts from the outage.