“Perfect Storm” at West Coast Ports

“A perfect storm of congestion” is how one official referred to conditions at West Coast ports. Sitting offshore on Friday were 18 vessels waiting to dock—normally there are zero, said Philip Sanfield, Director of Media Relations, Port of Los Angeles.

The congestion at the port is due to several causes, said Sanfield. Larger cargo vessels are one reason. Ten years ago ships docking at the port were about 8000 TEU, now their size has increased to 14,000 TEU, putting strain on cargo operations. Ship cargo used to come from a single shipping line, but recently shippers have formed alliances in an effort to stem financial losses. The larger vessels now may carry cargo from 2 or 3 shipping lines, complicating unloading, storage, and distribution. The process has become more disorganized and less efficient.