TRADE & SHIPPING UPDATE · November 5, 2026
London Gateway accepts empty containers again: refresh instructions before the return trip
A reopening notice changes the operational picture, but it does not replace shipment-specific dispatch instructions. Today’s China–UK shipping briefing follows the earlier London Gateway suspension with Maersk’s November 4 confirmation that empty-container acceptance has resumed.
1. What changed in the November 4 notice
Maersk announced on November 4, 2026 that London Gateway was accepting empty containers again and that normal operations had resumed in that context. It continued to instruct hauliers to check MATS Online for the latest empty-return directions before dispatch.
This is a subsequent update to the November 2 suspension covered in our November 3 briefing. Read the earlier report as a dated account of that restriction, not the latest acceptance status. The new announcement does not give a shipment-specific appointment, a fee waiver or an exact reopening time.
Maersk London Gateway acceptance-resumed notice, November 4, 2026
2. Buyer analysis: refresh the instruction, not just the destination name
Ask the haulier or appointed provider to obtain the current return instruction for the actual container before sending the vehicle. Keep the container number, equipment type, reference and instruction timestamp together. Confirm any appointment or access requirements through the responsible provider rather than treating a general reopening headline as a booking.
If an alternative depot was arranged during the suspension, ask whether that instruction still applies. Do not cancel the alternative movement or redirect a vehicle solely because a terminal has reopened. Have the carrier instruction, haulier plan and buyer’s approval refer to the same return location.
3. Reconcile disruption costs separately
Request a written breakdown of any waiting, additional haulage or storage charges already incurred. Compare each item with the agreed service and the records of what happened. Resumed acceptance does not by itself determine who pays a previous cost or whether a previously agreed adjustment remains valid.
Illustrative example only: a buyer approved an alternative empty-return trip during the suspension, but the vehicle has not departed when the reopening notice arrives. The buyer asks for current instructions and the cost of keeping or changing the plan before authorizing a revision. This example does not establish that cancellation is free or that returning to London Gateway is available for that container.
4. Close the return file with evidence
Retain the earlier restriction notice, the current instruction, dispatch messages, revised approvals and the final return receipt. If a later invoice is disputed, ask the provider to explain the relevant dates and charge lines against those records. A complete record supports review; it does not guarantee reimbursement.
MORENICE can coordinate China-side shipping records and communication with the appointed logistics parties. Confirm the live UK return arrangement with the carrier or responsible provider. This briefing reports a dated operational update and practical buyer checks, not real-time depot availability or a guarantee of future acceptance.
Continue your buyer checks
Earlier suspension report: November 3 →