U.S. Port Congestion 2014 & 2015
Archived from 2014 and 2015
Please note this was created to update customers on congestion and delays at many U.S. ports, specifically Long Beach and Los Angeles, that was increasing for multiple reasons and factors in 2014 and 2015. We collected some useful resources and information on this topic.
Key Factors
The port congestion was attributed to multiple factors, including:
- Increased shipping volumes due to ILWU-PMA continued contract negotiations
- Peak Season volumes
- Chassis shortage due to the decision by most ocean carriers to quit providing chassis to their customers
- Increasing sizes of ships in the trans-Pacific trade lane, which require longer times as berth
- Truck driver shortages and carrier capacity issues in the US domestic market
- Increased use of intermodal rail
- Carrier alliances calling multiple terminals, which causes delays in matching right container with right chassis
- Existing gate hours are not sufficient in meeting demand, PiersPass Inc. advised additional early and late flex hours along with additional shift for lunch and dinner hours
- California Trucking Association has added secondary safety checks resulting in longer turn time for drivers
- When mega ships arrive to port for loading or unloading there must be sufficient terminal operations to maintain vessel schedules (a global issue)
Industry Articles / Press Releases
- Impact of West Coast port labor dispute on GDP is hopefully not lasting – Logistics Management – July 08, 2015
- Imports At Normal Levels After Ratification of Contract – National Retail Federation –June 09, 2015
- Time for Shippers to Think Again About Diverting US West Cargo to the East – Supply Chain 247 – June 4, 2015
- Labor peace finally arrives for West Coast ports –Logistics Management – May 26, 2015
- West Coast Longshore Workers Overwhelmingly vote to approve new 5-year waterfront contract by 82% – International Longshore Warehouse Union – May 22, 2015
- April cargo volumes are mixed at Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach – Logistics Management – May 18, 2015
- Imports Settling Down After Surge to Clear Backlog – National Retail Federation –May 08, 2015
- Shippers to brace for big price hike in TransPacific – Logistics Management – May 07, 2015
- Update: Port Truck Drivers Strike Ends As Remaining Picketers Return to Work – Long Beach Post – May 01, 2015
- U.S. Ports See Costly Delays As Cargo Ships, Volumes Grow – The Wall Street Journal – April 29, 2015
- Port truck drivers strike for second day – L A Times – April 28, 2015
- Imports Rising as West Coast Ports Recover – National Retail Federation – Apr 09, 2015
- ILWU signs off on next steps to approve tentative labor agreement – Logistics Management – Apr 06, 2015
- Dockworkers union leaders back West Coast ports labor deal – American Journal of Transportation – Apr 06, 2015
- Port dock workers’ union ILWU Recommends Approval of new contract – Press-Telegram Shipping – Apr 03, 2015
Carrier Updates
- NYK: USWC Congestion & Vessel Schedule Update – March 03, 2015
- Hamburg Sud: Port and Terminal No. 24 USWC – February 27, 2015
- NYK: USWC Congestion and Vessel Shedule Update – February 27, 2015
- Hapag-Lloyd: USA West Coast Labor Negotiations Update – February 24, 2015
- OOCL Weekly Update – February 23, 2015
- MOL Mitsui O.S.K. Lines – February 23, 2015
Noatum Logistics Alerts and Updates
- President Getting Closer to “Fast-Track” Authority – June 23, 2015
- ILWU & PMA Ratify Five-Year Contract – May 22, 2015
- Americas Trade Priorities Advance on Several Fronts – April 30, 2015
- ILWU Taking Next Steps to Ratify Tentative Agreement – April 07, 2015
- Tentative Contract Agreement Announced Between ILWU and PMA – February 21, 2015
- Another Temporary Suspension of West Coast Vessel Operations – February 12, 2015
- PMA Announces Temporary Suspension of Weekend Vessel Operations – February 06, 2015
- PMA Makes Offer to ILWU in Effort to Avoid Work Stoppage – February 05, 2015
- Both PMA and ILWU Agree to Federal Mediation – January 06, 2015
- PMA Requests Federal Mediator Assistance With Contract Talks – December 24, 2014
- Multiple Carriers Postpone Port Congestion Surcharge Again – November 26, 2014
- Port Congestion Surcharge Effective November 26th – November 24, 2014
- Port Congestion Surcharge Postponed Until Further Review – November 19, 2014
- Update: Ocean Carriers Implement Port Congestion Charge Effective November 17th – November 14, 2014
- Carriers Implement Port Congestion Charge Effective November 17th – November 13, 2014
- Threat of LA-LB Gridlock Results in Plea to White House – November 7, 2014
- No Contract in Sight Between PMA and ILWU – November 4, 2014
- Continued Chassis Shortages At Major U.S. Ports – September 9, 2014
- ILWU and PMA Reached Tentative Agreement on Health Benefits – August 27, 2014