A TOTAL of 13 container ships were anchored beyond the breakwater that protects the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles on January 13, marking the largest number of ships sitting idle on the water since the ports' congestion problems began in October.
That beats the previous record of 12 vessels on November 11 and 23 during the last year, according to executive director of the Marine Exchange of Southern California, Captain Kip Louttit, who tracks the comings and goings of ships at local ports.
As a result of the docker go-slows, people are now waiting as long as one month to get their merchandise cleared from the docks, the California Apparel News reported.
To tackle the gridlocked cargo sitting at the two ports, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) said it would stop loading and unloading ships at night. Instead it is working to move more cargo containers off the docks at night to make room for incoming cargo unloaded during the day.
"This will continue until we are able to chip away at the congestion," said PMA spokesman Steve Getzug. "There have been backlogs and delays on-going for weeks, largely due to complications with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) slowdown.
"If the ILWU would dispatch crane yard drivers in the numbers necessary to get cargo moving, that would help. That has been the problem for 10 weeks." However, loading and unloading of ships continues during the day.
The ILWU maintains that the congestion problem is being caused by a chassis shortage and management decisions to not load and unload at night. "Longshore workers are ready, willing and able to clear the backlog created by the industry's poor decisions," ILWU president Bob McEllrath said.
"The employer is making nonsensical moves, like cutting back on shifts at a critical time, creating gridlock in a cynical attempt to turn public opinion against the workers. This creates an incendiary atmosphere during negotiations and does nothing to get us closer to an agreement."
Negotiations for a new six-year contract between the ILWU and PMA continue in San Francisco with the help of a federal mediator. "The talks are on-going," Mr Getzug said. "There has been good structure and content, and we are focused on getting a new contract as quickly as possible."
PORTS
20 January 2015 - 18:23
US west coast port slow-downs continues holding up ships
A TOTAL of 13 container ships were anchored beyond the breakwater that protects the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles on January 13, marking the largest number of ships sitting idle on the water since the ports' congestion problems began in October.
PORTS
20 January 2015 - 18:23
US west coast port slow-downs continues holding up ships
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