EFFORTS to clear the backlog of containers and vessels are progressing faster at the Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma than at Los Angeles and Long Beach.
At least 20 box ships arrive on a typical weekend at the southern California port complex of Los Angeles and Long Beach that accounts for 70 per cent of the USWC cargo volume, but even those ports are recording progress, reports the Journal of Commerce.
According to data from the Marine Exchange of Southern California on Friday March 27 there were 15 container ships at anchor and awaiting berthing space, down from 18 the day before.
During the peak of the congestion from early November through February, it was common for 25 or more box ships to be anchored.
The Marine Exchange said five container ships were scheduled to arrive last Friday, followed by seven on Saturday, five on Sunday and three on Monday.
Container backlogs on the docks are also easing, although no numbers are available to measure progress.
The ports of Seattle and Tacoma reported no box ships at anchor outside the ports on Friday. In mid-February, when congestion was at its worst, the Puget Sound ports had 16 vessels at anchor.
The Puget Sound ports report at least a 20 per cent increase in railcars moving in and out since the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) reached a tentative contract agreement on February 20.
"That's significantly helped clear out the terminals by providing the inbound empties needed for exports as well as the rail cars necessary for imports headed to the Midwest and Ohio Valley," the ports said in a statement.
Export surges are expected to cause sporadic truck backups at the terminal gates, but generally the terminal and gate operations are moving back to normal, the ports said.
Oakland reported one vessel at anchor and no ships in the holding area outside of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Although gate operations at the port of Oakland have improved, truck turn times are not back to normal throughout the port complex.
Motor carrier Devine Intermodal's president Richard Coyle said on Friday that four of Oakland's marine terminals have shown "marked improvement" in recent days, but SSA Marine's terminal continues to suffer congestion, with truck turn times taking as long as four to six hours.
WORLD SHIPPING
01 April 2015 - 19:49
Backed up ships, boxes clear faster at Oakland than LA-Long Beach
EFFORTS to clear the backlog of containers and vessels are progressing faster at the Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma than at Los Angeles and Long Beach.
WORLD SHIPPING
01 April 2015 - 19:49
Backed up ships, boxes clear faster at Oakland than LA-Long Beach
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