International Freight Forwarding Blog | Overseas Shipping Information

International Shipping News

Written by Reid Malinbaum | Thu, Jan 15, 2015 @ 11:58 PM

USA Advisory – West Coast Port Congestion & Labor Update

 

The congestion in existence for 8 months or so on the US West Coast has worsened since Christmas to this date.

 

Moral corruptions from the International Longshore warehouse Union inflict delays in every aspect of the supply chain, whether export or import trades up & down West Coast, including Seattle,/Tacoma, Oakland/San Francisco & Los Angeles/Long Beach Ports. Containers on ships left at anchor for days awaiting berthing, unloading and loading the vessel is taking longer than ever, pick up of loaded boxes can often take weeks due to congestion, containers are being buried in closed areas, there is a lack of chassis in good order and a lack of qualified drivers, the rails are congested.

 

The Union (ILWU) now stops the night shift. The battle intensified this week with both sides accusing the other of the current situation.

 

We will continue informing shippers with current information to this debacle. Contact ETC International Freight System for inquiries or to place a booking Sales@etcintenational.com or click the button below:

 

ETC International Freight System Courier Department

 

Shippers with small parcels wanting their shipments imported or exported on a door to door service & flown fast can utilize our service. We keep it very competitive & this service is used by shippers with also larger shipments via our air or ocean consolidation services. Contact us at 1-800-383-3157 for a quote over the telephone or email us at Sales@etcinternational.com

 

Full Container Loads (FCL)

 

For shippers with quest for wholesale freight rates, ETC International Freight System accesses multiple ocean service contracts to world destinations. We invite you to explore routing & pricing to compare with our competitors. Contact us at 1-800-383-3157 for a quote over the telephone or email us at Sales@etcinternational.com

 

 

Cargo ship of the near future

 

 

Now shippers pay bunker surcharges, which is a large part of the shipping cost. Our vessels now are polluting 24/7 while on a voyage. The pollution CO2 produces is known to affect the ocean life most seriously & cannot continue on this path (refer to CNN article of 1/16/2015).

Again for this kind of innovation, we turn to Northern Europe for ship design with rather futuristic lines, which may not be anytime soon ready for commercial use. The German engineering is developing engine with longer stroke technology more fuel efficient.. A Maersk vessel is closer to utilizing new technologies that could reduce the pollution by 50%.

Shippers can expect in a not so long future improved infrastructure with deeper water at ports, containers loading, unloading by machines, improved terminal, green trucks fully internet wired, perhaps, railhead following the trend. One constant trend to be expected will be with the union always using work slow down to compromise our economy for theirs that is already over inflated.

 

Shippers with commercial, industrial cargo wanting a quick & competitive pricing, please click the button below: