Ports

News and analysis of ports, terminals, dredging, expansion, hinterland connectivity, labor, disruption, congestion, cargo flow

The latest Ports News & Analysis

US ag shippers look to diversify exports away from West Coast

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor, and Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Jun 20, 2023, 5:05 PM EDT

Even though port congestion has cleared and a longshore labor deal has been reached, ag shippers say intractable problems still plague their ability to move goods easily through the West Coast.
North American portsContainer shipping

UPDATE: Doyle lands new post after resigning from top job at Maryland Port Administration

JOC Staff | Jun 20, 2023, 10:30 AM EDT

William Doyle’s departure after three years, announced to Maryland Port Administration employees Friday according to local news reports, came less than a week after he received three traffic citations.
North American portsContainer shippingRo/ro cargo

Louisiana governor aims to restore funds for new Port NOLA terminal

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Jun 16, 2023, 3:32 PM EDT

Louisiana’s state legislators made a surprise cut to funding the Port of New Orleans planned to use for the design and planning of a new $1.5 billion mega-terminal.
North American portsContainer shipping

ILWU scores 32% wage increase, $70 million bonus in tentative new contract

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Jun 16, 2023, 1:47 PM EDT

In addition to a 32% increase in dockworker wages over the life of the six-year deal, the tentative US West Coast longshore labor agreement includes a one-time $70 million bonus for staying on the job during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Longshore laborContainer linesTrans-PacificMarine terminalsNorth American ports

West India ports reopen to limited operations after cyclone

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent | Jun 16, 2023, 11:58 AM EDT

Some inland logistics services have resumed, but vessel movements at the ports of Pipavav and Mundra remain suspended due to disruption stemming from Cyclone Biparjoy.
International portsContainer shipping

Chassis providers rehabbing fleets as costs for new units remain elevated

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Jun 16, 2023, 11:44 AM EDT

With demand in ports and rail hubs weak, chassis providers are turning their attention to refurbishing older, less-reliable units, a process that is expected to take years to complete.
Drayage

Tentative West Coast longshore deal triggers lengthy ratification process

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Jun 15, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT

After 13 months of contentious negotiations that spawned numerous job actions by dockworkers, the ILWU and waterfront employers will engage in a ratification process expected to take several months.
Longshore laborContainer shippingContainer linesMarine terminalsNorth American ports

West Coast labor deal finally reached, but the damage is done

Peter Tirschwell | Jun 15, 2023, 2:12 PM EDT

Labor woes along the West Coast over the past year highlighted a stark difference: Shippers on the East and Gulf coasts are customers whose business is valued, while West Coast shippers are not customers in the traditional sense, but more like helpless bystanders, writes Peter Tirschwell.
Container shippingContainer linesTrans-PacificLongshore labor

May US imports highest of 2023, but down 20% from year-ago: data

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Jun 15, 2023, 1:45 PM EDT

Most big US ports are closing out the first half of 2023 with year-on-year double-digit volume declines as retail sales falter, but the West Coast labor deal may spark a seasonal uptick.
Container shippingNorth American ports

Hungry domestic market driving US Southeast cold storage development

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Jun 15, 2023, 9:00 AM EDT

Refrigerated warehousing construction is “exploding” in the US Southeast, as one port executive put it, thanks to a growing population and increased demand for imported produce and other food products.
Cool CargoesContainer shippingNorth American ports

ILWU, US West Coast employers reach tentative deal on new six-year contract

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Jun 14, 2023, 10:18 PM EDT

The deal, subject to ratification by both parties, ends 13 months of contentious negotiations marked by on-again, off-again job actions that disrupted port operations on the West Coast and diverted growing volumes of cargo to the East and Gulf coasts.
Longshore laborContainer shippingPortsNorth American ports

USWC talks notch some progress, but random job actions continuing

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Jun 14, 2023, 2:30 PM EDT

Minor progress in West Coast longshore talks came as ports operated without significant disruption on the first shift Wednesday, but were not completely spared some measure of labor action by workers.
Longshore laborContainer shippingContainer linesMarine terminalsNorth American ports

Indian container flow hit by port capacity strain, cyclone disruptions

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent | Jun 14, 2023, 10:13 AM EDT

More supply chain disruptions are imminent for Indian containerized trade as Cyclone Biparjoy, a storm that is expected to make landfall Thursday, has now forced major ports on the western coastline to shut.
International portsContainer shippingContainer lines

TRAC, DCLI throw support behind new South Atlantic chassis pool

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Jun 13, 2023, 4:45 PM EDT

Two major chassis lessors have committed to spending hundreds of millions of dollars to inject high-quality equipment to haul containers in five southern states.
North American ports

West Coast ports ‘stable’ after ILWU, PMA agree to cooling off period

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Jun 13, 2023, 1:35 PM EDT

The two sides will attempt to use the apparent truce brokered by Labor Secretary nominee Julie Su to reach agreement on the highly contentious issue of wages, which triggered disruptive job actions by ILWU locals over the past week.
Longshore laborContainer linesMarine terminalsNorth American ports

Container volumes getting back to trend after pandemic surge: analyst

Larry Gross, president and founder, Gross Transportation Consulting; and JOC analyst | Jun 13, 2023, 10:06 AM EDT

The container shipping market is well down the path toward normalcy, and if current conditions continue for another few months, the surge-related volume overhang will be worked off, writes analyst Larry Gross.
Supply ChainContainer shippingMarine terminalsNorth American ports

UPDATE: ILWU Canada votes to strike if contract talks fail

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Jun 12, 2023, 5:30 PM EDT

The vote to authorize a strike at Vancouver and Prince Rupert comes as negotiations between the ILWU and maritime employers on the US West Coast appeared to hit a new low over the weekend.
Longshore laborContainer shippingNorth American ports

West Coast ports hit with new round of cargo-handling disruptions

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Jun 12, 2023, 3:34 PM EDT

Disruption flared at West Coast ports as the Biden administration’s nominee for Labor Secretary flew to San Francisco in a bid to break the impasse in contract negotiations that some fear are rapidly deteriorating.
Container shippingContainer linesMarine terminalsLongshore laborNorth American ports

Maritime employers seek White House help with West Coast contract impasse

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor and Peter Tirschwell | Jun 12, 2023, 2:34 PM EDT

The Pacific Maritime Association hopes Labor Secretary nominee Julie Su can get ILWU negotiators to move closer to a level of wage increases that puts an agreement within reach.
Longshore laborContainer shippingContainer linesTrans-PacificPortsMarine terminalsNorth American ports

LA-LB vessel backlog cleared as West Coast negotiators remain at bargaining table

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Jun 9, 2023, 3:10 PM EDT

Talks between the ILWU and maritime employers continued Friday for a third straight day, which sources called a positive indicator with negotiations hitting the 13-month mark this weekend.
Longshore laborContainer shippingContainer linesMarine terminalsNorth American ports

Southern California ports navigate vessel backlog after ILWU job actions

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Jun 8, 2023, 4:47 PM EDT

Cargo handling was back to normal Thursday in Los Angeles and Long Beach for the first time in a week, but the ports are now struggling with a large vessel backlog after not having sufficient longshore labor.
Longshore laborContainer shippingContainer linesMarine terminalsNorth American ports

Wilmington port looks at new operator after GT USA’s unsettled tenure

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Jun 8, 2023, 11:28 AM EDT

The Delaware port could be turned over to terminal operator Enstructure, which has committed to advancing the proposed Edgemoor container terminal project.
North American portsContainer shipping

CMA CGM to acquire share of Cosco’s Spanish terminal unit

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Jun 8, 2023, 8:48 AM EDT

The Marseille-based carrier continues to grow its terminal portfolio in strategic areas as part of a broad move to control the end-to-end logistics of customer shipments.
Marine terminalsContainer shippingContainer linesInternational ports

Rate of US import declines to slow into third quarter: retailers

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Jun 7, 2023, 5:33 PM EDT

The year-on-year gap in monthly import volumes will only narrow as shippers start to ramp up back-to-school and seasonal product ordering, says the National Retail Federation.
Container shippingNorth American ports

Seattle effectively shut, vessel backup builds in LA-LB amid ILWU job actions

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Jun 7, 2023, 3:51 PM EDT

The latest labor-related port disruptions along the West Coast came as coastwide contract negotiations between the ILWU and the Pacific Maritime Association were scheduled to resume Wednesday.
North American portsContainer shippingPorts

Latest ILWU job action further energizes West Coast cargo diversions

Peter Tirschwell | Jun 7, 2023, 12:30 PM EDT

Shippers diverting goods away from the West Coast typically like what they see: Ports up and down the East and Gulf coasts that have invested significantly to handle growth, are customer-focused, take fluidity seriously and have experienced virtually no labor disruption since the late 1970s.
Longshore laborContainer shippingMarine terminalsNorth American ports

Stage set for IMO to provide strong direction on decarbonization path

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor | Jun 7, 2023, 12:06 PM EDT

The International Maritime Organization has an opportunity next month to set more aggressive goals to slash carbon emissions, which could send a powerful signal to stakeholders needing direction, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.
Container linesContainer shippingPortsMarine terminalsTransport, trade and regulation

US importers still destocking, and delaying restocking in uncertain economy

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Jun 7, 2023, 10:52 AM EDT

US consumers are still spending, but at a slower rate, and that’s pushing major restocking of goods further toward the back half of 2023, analysts and retailers say.
Supply ChainContainer shippingNorth American portsTruckingIndustrial real estate

USWC longshore contract talks resume while terminal disruptions continue

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Jun 6, 2023, 5:12 PM EDT

The disruptions happening now are a repeat of events in April when ILWU locals up and down the coast slowed cargo handling to gain leverage on local issues, which prevented coastwide negotiators from addressing broader issues such as wages and pension benefits.
Longshore laborContainer shippingContainer linesMarine terminalsNorth American ports

MSC adds North American calls to Latin America-Europe service

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Jun 6, 2023, 2:55 PM EDT

The ports of Boston and Halifax are getting additional trans-Atlantic coverage through a new rotation on Mediterranean Shipping Co.’s north-south service from Ecuador.
Container linesContainer shippingNorth American ports

Vancouver port authority searching for new leader after CEO says will step down

Teri Errico Griffis | Jun 6, 2023, 2:00 PM EDT

Perhaps Robin Silvester’s biggest accomplishment leading the port was shepherding the early stages of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project, which cleared a major environmental hurdle last month and will double Vancouver’s annual throughput capacity.
PortsMaritimeMarine terminalsNorth American ports

ILWU Canada threatens strike at Vancouver, Prince Rupert

Journal of Commerce staff | Jun 5, 2023, 5:39 PM EDT

ILWU Canada rank-and-file will vote later this week on whether to issue a 72-hour strike notice, raising the unprecedented prospect of disruption on Canada’s West Coast amid job actions by labor along the US West Coast.
Longshore laborContainer shippingTrans-PacificPortsNorth American portsNorth-American rail

UPDATE: USWC disruptions continue as ILWU flexes power amid wage, manning gap with employers

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Jun 5, 2023, 5:22 PM EDT

The White House said it was monitoring the fast-developing situation along the West Coast, while a major retail organization urged the Biden administration to intervene and warned about the ongoing diversion of cargo to the East and Gulf coasts.
Longshore laborContainer linesMarine terminalsNorth American ports

New FMC complaint challenges ‘unlawful’ stevedoring fees in Baltimore

Teri Errico Griffis | Jun 5, 2023, 3:02 PM EDT

Two stevedoring companies are looking to the Federal Maritime Commission to stop what they say is an unlawful access fee at the Port of Baltimore after one of them was invoiced $1.2 million.
Transport, trade and regulationRo/ro cargoPortsNorth American ports

Wilmington, Virginia top US port performers for 2022: index

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Jun 5, 2023, 1:17 PM EDT

The Container Port Performance Index for 2022 showed that among large ports, China’s Yangshan ranked No. 1, while Ningbo and Guangzhou were among the top 10.
North American portsContainer shippingInternational ports

US chassis lessors learning from pandemic surge as demand wanes

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Jun 2, 2023, 3:50 PM EDT

With international rail volume down by double-digit percentages in 2023, chassis providers have an opportunity to reflect on the struggles of 2021 and 2022 and adjust their networks ahead of the next surge.
Drayage

ILWU shuts down some US West Coast port terminals

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Jun 2, 2023, 3:26 PM EDT

The ILWU Friday shut down some terminals at West Coast ports after coastwide contract negotiations broke down Thursday because the union and employers are reportedly far apart on wages.
Longshore laborContainer shippingMarine terminals

First new chassis arrive for new South Atlantic pool

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Jun 1, 2023, 3:36 PM EDT

The first chassis for a new equipment pool covering the ports of Jacksonville, Savannah, and Wilmington, NC, arrived this week, the first step ahead of an October launch.
DrayageNorth American ports

First massive offshore wind tower sections delivered to Massachusetts port

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor | Jun 1, 2023, 8:00 AM EDT

Vineyard Wind is one of the first commercial-scale offshore wind projects under construction in the US and at completion will generate some 800 megawatts of power.
Breakbulk shippingEnergy projectsPorts

Norfolk Southern eases free time, demurrage restrictions on ocean boxes

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | May 31, 2023, 2:29 PM EDT

The railroad is reducing demurrage fees and restoring additional free time that was eliminated in the past two years as international intermodal volumes have fallen sharply from East Coast ports.
RailNorth American portsIntermodal providersNorth-American rail