FMC Releases Report on U.S. Port Congestion

Excerpt from: American Shipper | By: Eric Johnson | July 14 2015

The Federal Maritime Commission on Tuesday released a report on U.S. port congestion based on findings from four regional forums the commission held last fall as congestion crises swept through key containerized gateways on both coasts.

{Photo Source: Depositphotos.com/pz.axe}

The problem was particularly acute at West Coast ports, where operational issues were compounded by fractious longshore labor negotiations. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union and their employers, represented by the Pacific Maritime Association, agreed to a tentative labor contract in February that was officially ratified in May.

The report, “U.S. Container Port Congestion & Related International Supply Chain Issues: Causes, Consequences & Challenges,” is segmented into six sections, to reflect what the FMC characterized as the six most prevalent discussion areas at the forums.

The sections touch on capital investment in ports, chassis availability, vessel and terminal operations, drayage, extended port hours and congestion pricing, and collaboration. Each section has an extensive summary of viewpoints gathered from the four forums, held in Los Angeles, Baltimore, Charleston and New Orleans.

To read the full article, visit American Shipper