About 20 container ships are anchored in a cluster at Port Klang, on Malaysia’s west coast, near Kuala Lumpur.
Both Klang and Singapore lie on the Straits of Malacca, a significant waterway connecting Europe and the Middle East with East Asia.
Many ships heading to Asia decide to around the southern tip of Africa, meaning they haven’t any opportunity to refuel or unload cargo within the Middle East.
Port Klang is a vital terminal because of its proximity to Kuala Lumpur, but queues of this size are rare and photos of ships show many ships unloading at its quays.
Sites in Singapore and Tanjong Pelepas, a Malaysian port just across the city-state’s border, also look like full, but there are fewer ships waiting at those terminals.
Analysts say the congestion at transshipment terminals could last until August. Container ship rates have soared amid delays and diversions.
