Port Performance North America: When Will the Bottlenecks Ease?

The trans-Pacific supply chain in 2021 was overwhelmed by record US imports from Asia, COVID-19 outbreaks that shut down key China load ports for weeks at a time, the worst vessel on-time performance ever, vessel bunching and congestion at major US gateways and intermodal rail networks, and inland ramps that are still gridlocked. Because US imports now are driven in large part by e-commerce replenishment, and consumers show no signs of cutting back on spending, will these same conditions persist in 2022? What can North American ports and terminal operators do to improve cargo velocity, such as creating surge yards for the temporary storage of containers to relieve pressures at marine terminals, and forming peel piles to reduce trucker turn times? Can shippers look for relief next year at inland rail hubs such as Chicago and Memphis, or will the rail ramps stay congested or possibly get worse?
This webcast will feature the latest trends, outlook, data, and analytics, along with insights from key industry experts and stakeholders as cargo interests wrestle with the worst congestion in recent memory.
Session Chair/Presenter:
Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor, Trans-Pacific, JOC, Maritime & Trade, IHS Markit
AGENDA:
1:00 - 1:05 PM Welcome Remarks
1:05 - 1:35 PM The 2022 Container Shipping Outlook
Will container lines step up to provide sufficient capacity if the record 15 consecutive months of record and near-record import volumes continue well into the new year — or beyond? What are the key forces driving the huge North American import volumes, and will those forces continue to be at work in 2022? Has the eastbound trans-Pacific transitioned from a seasonal trade lane in which peaks and valleys are based upon back-to-school, holiday and spring shopping, and post-holiday and Lunar New Year lows, to a continuous flow of merchandise-based on online shopping? What are the implications of constant replenishment for port congestion and port-related supply chains in Asia and North America? Does “build the church for Easter Sunday” now mean every week is Easter Sunday in the eastbound trans-Pacific?
Keynote Speaker:
Alan Murphy, CEO, and President, Sea-Intelligence Consulting
1:35 - 2:05 PM Asia Load Ports in 2022: Taking Stock
Which ports — and manufacturing centers — in China, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent are most likely to continue expanding, and which regions will most likely experience gridlock? Do manufacturers in Asia anticipate exports to North America will cool down from the torrid pace in 2021? What did ports and terminal operators in Asia learn this past year about handling record and near-record volumes month after month? Have they implemented new, improved, and safer operating procedures? What about manufacturers in those countries? What are they doing to maintain resiliency in the COVID era? Have other countries learned from China that it takes a village comprised of vendors, manufacturers, assemblers, and logistics providers to efficiently meet growing consumer demand in North America?
Speakers:
Jon Monroe, President, Jon Monroe Consulting
Daniel Krassenstein, Global Supply Chain Director, Procon Pacific
2:05 - 2:35 PM West and East Coast Ports: More Challenges Ahead?
North American ports have endured an unprecedented 15 consecutive months of record or near-record months of imports from Asia. Will these volumes continue into 2022, or possibly beyond? What improved processes have ports deployed to handle vessel bunching, congested marine terminals, chassis shortages, drayage capacity challenges, and warehouses filled to capacity? Will US ports follow the model rolled out by the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in October of charging fees on containers with excessive dwell times to drive cargo velocity?
Speakers:
West Coast Ports: Sal Ferrigno, Vice President, SSA Marine
New York-New Jersey: Bethann Rooney, Deputy Port Director, Port Authority of New York-New Jersey
Georgia Ports Authority: John Petrino, Director Business Development and International Marketing, Georgia Ports Authority
2:35 - 3:05 PM Container Handoffs From Marine Terminals to Warehouses and Intermodal Rail Ramps
Where have all the chassis gone? The overland supply chain this past year has contended with non-stop shortages of chassis, truck capacity, rail power and cars, and record bottlenecks at rail ramps in Chicago and other inland hubs. What plans do asset providers and railroads have to increase their chassis deployments for 2022 cargo volumes that may well exceed those in 2021? Can US chassis manufacturers step up production to meet growing demand next year? When will inland rail hubs return to normal operations?
Speakers:
Mike O’Malley, Senior Vice President, Government and Public Relations, DCLI
Jason Hilsenbeck, President LoadMatch & Drayage.com
3:05 PM Closing Remarks
Interested in sponsoring this webcast? For more information, please visit https://subscribe.joc.com/mediasolutions/
Register Now