15, 000 containers stranded, US Port close to collapse, Maersk responds...
Since July, there have been reports of a surge in container traffic at several US ports.Congestion at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach was exacerbated in October by a flood of cargo during the Chinese Golden Week holiday and a reduction in dockworkers to ensure safe distances during the epidemic.Container ships at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are likely to face further delays in the coming weeks or even months, according to the sources.
Congestion creates additional challenges, including demurrage charges, increased waiting times that reduce local towing capacity, and other costs associated with collecting containers at the docks.
Port congestion also affects the movement of goods via LTL, LCL, and IPI via the interior of the West Coast.Many shippers are experiencing serious delays in importing eastbound goods to the West Coast.
And the shortage of equipment and the severe container imbalance in the Pacific trade, which has caused a large number of imported containers in the United States port backlog has not been improved, and the trend is getting worse.
The California Trucking Association and the Ports Trucking Association say cargo traffic at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach is "close to complete paralysis."
The HTA also revealed that 10, 000-15, 000 containers were stranded at the terminal, affecting normal operations.
The associations also said truck drivers were hit with fees earlier this year after problems with the gate closing and reservation system affected their ability to haul back empty boxes.At the time, the two shipping companies agreed to waive demurrage charges, but the problem persisted and resulted in millions of dollars in demurrage charges.It called for an immediate end to fees.
In response, Maersk said it planned to work with the Ports Trucking Association (HTA), based in Long Beach, California, to improve the efficiency of its terminal operations in the region and tackle congestion.
Some agencies expect congestion at US ports to continue through the first quarter of 2021 as cargo demand remains high.
