Well, pictures can convey the magnitude of the delays experienced at the LA / Long Beach Ports:
Import & export ocean containers, economic down-turn in the horizon: Vessels off shore waiting to dock
Problems in the USWC are expected to worsen in the coming weeks, as negotiations of a new labour contract are ongoing. Following the expiry of a pervious deal on 20 June 2014, the new agreement is to replace a six-year contract between port employers, represented by the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), and some 20,000 dockworkers at 29 US West Coast ports, represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). Despite eight months of negotiations, the situation remains deadlocked and an intervention by US federal mediators, which began on 5 January, has not produced any positive outcome yet.
The ILWU therefore continues to withhold the dispatch of skilled yard crane operators, while the PMA retaliates by eliminating night shift operations. Both parties therewith contribute to a further worsening of the terminal and yard congestion across all USWC ports.
Soaring demand for ships of 4,000-8,000 teu for contingency deployment to the USWC has helped to keep the idle fleet at a six-year low. At 233,000 teu, the current extra sailers on FE-USWC routes represent 1.3% of the total cellular fleet. While further extra sailers are expected to be deployed in the coming weeks, the container backlog on the USWC is still expected to take several months to clear, even after the resolution of the PMA-ILWU contract negotiations.
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On the upside!
Air & ocean freight consolidations have weekly departure. The weekly air & ocean freight services are strong with world destinations & rates that begins to reflect the lower gasoline cost.
ETC International Freight System is IATA licensed, having rate agreements with all major airlines in North America & coupled with similar agreements signed by our overseas associates, enhancing our competitive edge. Whether choosing our most economical service via our scheduled weekly consolidations, direct daily service for your most urgent orders, or, a door to door service exclusively handled through our network of established freight agencies, ETC Intl Freight System has your suited service ready for takeoff.
Enhance partnership with our customers with tracking of your shipments with the airlines around the world & proof of delivery (POD) from our overseas agents. ETC Intl. Freight System’s consolidated rates are designed especially to keep prices aggressively low. ETC Intl. Freight System’s interactive web-based tracking system gives you the added confidence of knowing the precise location of your cargo.
Air Cargo Height Restrictions
Since 1993 from the West, Gulf & East Coasts our operation department has loaded and transported large volume of vehicles. In the process, ETC Intl. Freight System developed the strictest loading safety standards and equipment technologies.
Whether, you ship one vehicle or consolidate 3,4,5 vehicles into a 40’ high cubic container, we block , brace & ramp your cars to any world destination. Air freighting or roll on roll off auto shipping are also services that we offer to world destinations.
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