The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach report progress is being made in their efforts to clear container backlogs. Port of Long Beach CEO Jon Slangerup told the Journal of Commerce earlier this week that three to four days are now required to turn each ship, compared to turnaround times of five to six days the previous week and a week or more during the height of the congestion crisis. However, port officials cautioned that it still may take three months to return vessel traffic flow to normal in the Los Angeles–Long Beach complex.
Late-arriving vessels from these Southern California ports also have a big impact on the Port of Oakland, which reported that its February export container volume declined 34 percent year-over-year. The Port of Long Beach reported a 23 percent decline in export container volume in February, while volumes in Los Angeles and Seattle-Tacoma were down 10 percent and 8 percent, respectively. More details are available in these February container volume reports:
Beginning Monday, March 30, delegates from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) will begin their evaluation of the tentative contract agreement reached last month between the ILWU and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA). If these 90 delegates recommend approval of the contract, a vote of the full ILWU membership will be conducted by secret ballot in April. If the delegates recommend rejection of the contract, ILWU and PMA must return to the negotiating table.