After a shutdown that began on August 11, the Meishan Island International Container Terminal (MSICT) in the Ningbo-Zhoushan port reopened on August 25. 

Operations at Meishan port terminal was hampered after a staff tested positive for Covid-19, prompting suspension of operations as China currently operates on a zero Covid policy — with severe lockdowns in place once infections are identified.

The lockdowns were lifted on August 25 ending two-week long suspension.

Earlier, CMA CGM said in its customer advisory that MSICT had restarted partial operations on August 18 with two of its ships completing operations. At that time, the liner said yard operations remained suspended.

Peter Sand, chief shipping analyst at shipowner association BIMCO said it could take up to 60 days for operations at the port to"return to normal" as workers and staff return from quarantine — which could mean continued disruptions ahead of the stocking season prior to the holiday season.

The said terminal accounts for about 25% of container cargo through the port.

MSICT is the second Chinese container terminal to be hit by a coronavirus-related closures recently. Between May and June, Yantian International Container Terminal (YICT)    — the world's third busiest port — also shuttered its operations for at least three weeks from May 21, following an outbreak at Yantian port area.

The Yantian closures were earlier cited to have caused "major disruptions" to the already-fragile supply chains worldwide.

Analysts noted that the impact of the Ningbo terminal disruptions will be "considerably less" compared to Yantian.

Meanwhile, Sand of BIMCO noted that a "zero tolerance" policy for coronavirus "does not work when it comes to a big port."