**Global:** Natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic eruptions are severely impacting transportation infrastructure worldwide. This disrupts supply chains and trade, prompting calls for enhanced risk management, infrastructure upgrades, coordinated stakeholder responses, and diversified logistics strategies to build resilience in global commerce.
Natural disasters pose significant challenges to global trade and logistics networks, with far-reaching consequences for supply chains and businesses worldwide. Recent events have highlighted the multifaceted impact of such calamities on transportation infrastructure and commerce.
One striking example occurred on 6 February 2023, when a powerful earthquake measuring 7.8 in magnitude struck Turkey and Syria. This seismic event caused the collapse of the Port of Iskenderun, a key maritime gateway in southern Turkey. The port’s closure forced cargo traffic to be rerouted more than 200 kilometres to the nearby port of Mersin, resulting in severe bottlenecks. Prior to the earthquake, the average dwell time for cargo at the port was 3.6 days; however, within ten days of the disaster, this metric surged to a peak of 21.1 days on 16 February. In addition to the port disruption, 1,275 kilometres of railway lines in the Kahramanmaraş region of Turkey were damaged, illustrating how multiple transport modes can be simultaneously affected in disaster scenarios.
Natural hazards extend beyond earthquakes. In Scandinavia, a landslide in Stenungsund, Sweden, damaged the E6 motorway, a critical corridor connecting Oslo, Norway, with Gothenburg, Sweden. The destruction of this major route interrupted distribution services across the region, with the Swedish Transport Administration advising a detour that extended travel times by four to five hours. Such geologically driven disruptions underscore ongoing vulnerabilities in mountainous and terrain-challenged areas.
More recently, in February 2025, Mount Etna in Sicily erupted, leading to the temporary closure of Catania Airport, one of the region’s principal air transport hubs. Flight cancellations resulted in a standstill for air freight operations across Europe, with substantial repercussions for US imports and exports dependent on this gateway. This event demonstrated how volcanic activity can directly influence air logistics and transcontinental trade flows.
The aftermath of natural disasters leads to transportation delays, increased freight costs, and inventory imbalances, placing additional strain on customer service functions within affected companies. Ellie Gabel, an associate editor and freelance writer specialising in technology and science’s intersection with global industry, highlights the importance of resilient response frameworks in logistics. She notes that shipping businesses must develop comprehensive risk mitigation strategies featuring robust business continuity plans (BCPs). These plans should encompass emergency protocols, alternative routing strategies for each major port, and rapid crisis communication with stakeholders. Gabel observes, however, that many companies still lack current, tested BCPs.
Integrating advanced risk management technologies is a key component of building resilience. Real-time cargo tracking and predictive weather analytics allow companies to assess the extent of disruptions and inform operational decisions. “Live traffic feedback supports decision-making on the spot,” Gabel explains. For instance, drivers can use such information to circumvent areas prone to flooding or rockfall, opting instead for safer, protected routes. This capability expedites recovery by removing the need for constant operator-to-company confirmations and gives transport personnel a head start following perturbations.
Infrastructure upgrades also contribute to long-term resilience. The Asian Development Bank’s investment of over $65 million in climate-resilient enhancements to Pacific Island ports—including breakwater improvements at Apia port in Samoa—exemplifies such efforts. Complementing physical improvements, the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) has introduced Risk and Resilience Guidelines to assist port authorities in assessing risks, coordinating stakeholders, and defining adaptive measures.
Policy-level transformations are equally critical. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report advocates for transformational adaptations within maritime operations, such as relocating ports, optimising shipping routes, and adjusting global trade hubs to reduce exposure to climate-related threats.
The cooperation between various stakeholders is vital for effective disaster recovery. Strong partnerships among shippers, freight forwarders, and port operators can differentiate between uncoordinated disruption and controlled response. Gabel advises businesses to evaluate their logistics partners’ disaster readiness, asking whether they have alternate routing agreements, maintain data redundancy for tracking, or participate in emergency coordination networks.
Finally, supply chain diversification emerges as a strategic response to mitigate risks. Overreliance on a single port, carrier, or geographic region may leave companies vulnerable to localized disasters. Expanding supplier bases, routing options, and destination points can provide operational buffers against unexpected interruptions.
With the expectation of intensified weather events linked to climate change, the shipping sector faces increasing volatility. Those companies that integrate disaster resilience as a foundational element of their operations, rather than as an occasional contingency, will likely achieve greater stability in service delivery during crises and enhance their competitive positioning in the global marketplace.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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