Port congestion in SoCal harming liner schedule reliability

SeaIntel analysis finds vessels delayed an average of 3.4 days into Los Angeles and Long Beach, as well as the next port of call.    Congestion in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach has hit carrier schedule reliability hard, according to research from the maritime analyst SeaIntel.
   Schedule reliability industry-wide fell 40 percent into the two Southern California ports in October, and 50 percent into the next port of call, according to SeaIntel’s Sunday Spotlight.
   The ports have been plagued by a mixture of operational issues tied to chassis availability and the impact of larger vessels discharging more cargo. Strife between U.S. West Coast unionized longshoremen and their employers has added to the stress for shippers.
   Two major U.S. importers told American Shipper off the record Monday they are being hugely impacted by the ongoing congestion – managing shipments has become all-consuming as shippers navigate vessel delays, truck delays, and chassis issues.
   The Pacific Maritime Association, the body that represents employers in negotiations with longshoremen, has repeatedly intimated that members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union are using work slowdowns to add to the congestion problems. The ILWU has refuted the allegations.
   Ships arriving at Los Angeles or Long Beach were an average of 3.4 days late in October, with delays into the next port of call also at 3.4 days, SeaIntel said.