Port of New York/New Jersey sees record January volumes

East Coast ports benefiting from increased volumes thanks to West Coast congestion.    In January 2015, the Port of New York and New Jersey handled 268,442 containers of all sizes, 7.8 percent more than the 249,043 in January 2014 and 2.7 more than in the previous monthly record for January in 2012, when the port handled 261,268 containers. The port’s terminals handled 463,002 TEUs in January 2015, 428,918 TEUs in January 2014, 428,367 TEUs in January 2013, and 448,681 TEUs in January 2012.
   ExpressRail, the port’s intermodal rail terminal handled 39,355 containers in January, 20.8 percent more than the 32,586 in January 2014.
   East Coast ports have been seeing increased volumes in recent months as many shippers rerouted cargo because of congestion at West Coast ports.
   For example, the Georgia Port Authority said Savannah handled 293,654 TEU in January, 13.3 percent more than in January 2014. Imports at Savannah increased 6.4 percent to 147,903 TEUs.
   Demand is so strong that in the coming weeks, a large number of sweeper ships or “extra loaders” with containers from the Far East are expected to arrive at East Coast ports because of congestion out west.
   Richard Larrabee, the director of the Port Commerce division of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said last week, “Between January and the end of March, we will see at least 12 extra loader vessels. I would expect that this concept will continue through May.” He said the ships are expected to deliver cargo that normally would have moved through West Coast ports and take back empties.
   Jorge Quijano, the chief executive officer of the Panama Canal Authority, said his country’s waterway has seen about a 5 to 7 percent increase in the amount of cargo on containerships transiting the canal to the U.S East and Gulf Coasts and a 7 percent increase in utilization on the backhaul from the East Coast.
   Last week, leaders of the International Longshoremen’s Association, which represents dock workers on the East and Gulf Coasts said they do not plan to take advantage of the congestion at West Coast ports.
  “I have made two statements this past year stating in the strongest of terms that the ILA would not handle diverted cargo that might be shipped to East and Gulf Coast ports as the result of unsuccessful negotiations between our Sisters and Brothers with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA),” said ILA President Harold J. Daggett. “We have been in close contact with Bob McEllrath, the ILWU president and his negotiating team throughout the past year reaffirming our strong bonds of solidarity and support.”
   ILA spokesman Jim McNamara said Tuesday if the ILWU felt that cargo was specifically being diverted to the West Coast to the East Coast and sent pickets to the East Coast, the ILA would honor them, as the ILWU did in 1977 when the ILA sent pickets to the West Coast.
   McNamara said there has been no indication that the ILWU will make such a request.