Ocean carriers appear to be banking on a short port strike, allowing ships to remain on scheduled calls or sit at anchorage, but those plans could change if East and Gulf ports remain closed through the end of the week.

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) rejected a last-minute offer from maritime employers that included higher wages and retirement contributions, as the first strike by East and Gulf coast port workers since 1977 got underway.

Trucking companies rushed to remove containers at East and Gulf coast ports before a Tuesday strike as nearby yards swell with container equipment and chassis.

The strike will affect about 40% of Montreal’s container capacity and comes as port employers remain in protracted talks with the longshore union over a new contract.

The White House may finally be looking to take a firmer hand in stalled talks between the ILA and maritime employers with an expected strike just days away.

Ocean carriers and marine terminals allege the International Longshoremen’s Association is violating US labor law by refusing to return to contract negotiations that haven’t been held since June.

The lobby group representing ocean carriers in issues involving containers failed in its bid to further delay new rules covering how per diem bills are handled.

The $1 billion facility at the Port of Charleston has sat largely idle since its opening in 2021 amid a protracted dispute with the ILA over control of crane operator jobs.

The union representing Montreal’s longshore workers is looking to ratchet up pressure on the port’s employers as the two sides are set to meet after a strike vote takes place.

Nearly 30 ships are bound for the Port of New York and New Jersey as marine terminals and ocean carriers prepare for a possible dockworker strike.

The contingency plans by the ports come as some ocean carriers are cutting off new export bookings ahead of the possible work stoppage and issuing surcharges for cargo en route to ports that may be closed on Oct. 1.

The shippers were joined this time by a group of House Republicans, who in a separate letter warned of the “dire impacts” to the US economy from a possible port strike.

Ports and ocean carriers are now figuring out the playbook for how to handle what would be the first strike to hit the US East and Gulf coasts in nearly half a century.

The report aims to bolster the case for heightened cyber-security efforts at US ports, which the congressmen who authored the report say are vulnerable to Chinese espionage.

The US maritime regulator sees no reason to block the new vessel-sharing alliance run by Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, but the agency’s head still has concerns about the deal.

East and Gulf coast maritime employers laid out their terms for signing a new contract with longshore workers, but they warned the ‘signal’ to strike is clear.

The International Longshoremen’s Association is starting to coordinate local labor actions as its executive leaders note the ongoing “impasse” in talks with maritime employers.

New cranes on order will serve the larger ships that are coming with the expected 2025 completion of a multi-year project to widen Houston’s ship channel to accommodate two-way traffic of neo-Panamax vessels, Charlie Jenkins tells the Journal of Commerce.

A new warehouse due to open early next year in Portland for frozen and ambient-temperature cargoes could cut transportation costs for shippers now using out-of-state storage and ports.

The US maritime regulator said the ocean carrier did not simply have a contractual dispute with a shipper but instead clearly violated the US Shipping Act.

The port is looking to employ the landlord model used at other West Coast ports that would allow a private operator to manage the T6 terminal’s daily operations and market the facility to ocean carriers and shippers.

The Port of Vancouver is still berthing ships for now, but ocean carriers are reviewing future calls due to the potential for congestion caused by the Canadian railroad work stoppage.

Canada’s western ports have little capacity to handle idled intermodal cargo should railroad workers strike, but eastern ports have more space to manage any delays.

SeaLead and TS Lines have a new vessel-sharing agreement within SeaLead’s recently launched Asia-US West Coast service, harking back to the pandemic-era rush of new market entrants.

British Columbia's maritime employers warn of a port-wide strike vote taking place as Canada’s labor tribunal considers a union proposal about staffing at DP World’s Centerm.

The carrier said the move was a response to “ongoing robust demand” on the trade lane, becoming the second trans-Pacific service MSC has relaunched this year.

The president of the International Longshoremen’s Association said maritime employers “are running out of time” to sign a new contract before the current deal’s expiration on Sept. 30.

The liner follows MSC, Cosco and CMA CGM in rolling out new services that cater to the growing container trade between China and Mexico.

Over 150 groups representing a variety of US businesses called on the White House to bring labor and management together, but it’s not clear if the ILA would welcome outside influence.

US exporters face unexpected costs and delays due to changes in dates for dropping off containers, which the FMC hopes to address with more consistent data.

Mediterranean Shipping Co. is increasing capacity between Asia and the West Coast of Mexico amid surging foreign direct investment by China into Mexico.

The International Longshoremen’s Association cited the “massive profits” ocean carriers have booked in recent years to highlight the wage proposal it plans to push in contract talks with employers.

The agency’s detention and demurrage rules are still unclear as to billing those charges to truckers, according to challenges put forth by ocean carriers.

The International Longshoremen’s Association said it has called off talks for a new six-year labor agreement due to automation efforts at Maersk-operated marine terminals.

The union representing Canada’s West Coast longshore foremen say they are holding off a strike vote while a mediation process takes place with maritime employers.

During the tenure of the two members, the FMC has ramped up its oversight of the container shipping industry following widespread strains during the pandemic-era container surge.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will take full control of the Howland Hook marine terminal in Staten Island while New York City will take over Brooklyn’s Red Hook terminal.

A preliminary federal investigation found the use of a different breaker configuration than had been previously in use onboard the Dali that led to a series of power blackouts on its outbound voyage.

Brandy Christian led the Port of New Orleans during the acquisition of its on-dock rail network and spearheaded the development of a new terminal that will allow the port to service ultra-large ships.

After a two-year binge that left inventories bloated, demand for imported wine, beer and spirits dried up in 2023.