Industry News and Updates:
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Story 1) U.S. West Coast Congestion - Anchorages And Labor - Update 2/18/21
Story 2) U.S. Dept. of Transportation Maritime Administration Alert 2021-002A Upcoming Mariner Travel Requirements Changes - January 19, 2021
Story 3) Largest Container Cranes Ever arrive to the port of oakland - December 23, 2020
Story 4) U.S. EPA Publishes VIDA PROPOSED RULE for Vessel Discharges Including Ballast Water - Oct 26, 2020
Story 5) California Doubles Penalties for Oil Spills - October 02, 2020
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1) U.S. West Coast congestion - anchorages and labor - Update 2/18/21
TO: CHARTERERS, VESSEL OWNERS & OPERATORS WITH VESSELS CALLING ON U.S. WEST COAST PORTS
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As follow-up to our message on February 04, vessel anchorage at most U.S. west coast ports continues to be extremely congested as container terminals, particularly in southern California, struggle to keep up with the current traffic loads.
Below is a quick survey of U.S. West Coast ports as of the afternoon of February 18th.
LAX/Long Beach:
Vessels at anchor = approximately 49 vessels total – 29 container ships; 1 reefer vessel; 16 tank vessels and 3 cruise ships. Drift areas are being utilized.
Labor: No shortages reported so far but this may change as the container terminals are at full capacity.
San Francisco Bay area:
Vessels at anchor in Anchorage Nine = approximately 25 vessels total – 14 container ships, 8 dry bulk and 3 tankers/ATB
Vessels at anchor off Richmond = 2 tankers
Anchorages are “first come; first serve”
Labor: spot shortages of labor are a regular occurrence.
Stockton/Sacramento labor: Normal (Note: longshore labor is currently not allowed to travel from one port to another due to COVID 19 concerns)
Columbia River:
Portland has only one active container service so congestion is no more than usual for this time of year with with some rain delayed grain vessels waiting for berth.
As of Tuesday, Feb 16...
Anchorages available for Panamax vessels at Astoria: 1 (However, 8 inbound vessels were due to arrive Feb 16-19)
Upstream anchor buoys available: 3
Labor: Normal, but not traveling to other locations.
Puget Sound:
Vessels at anchor: 16 total --- 7 container ships; 7 dry bulk and 2 tankers.
Anchorages: Anchorages are available for short term stays, but longer term stays are very difficult to reserve. Most of the containerships at anchor are waiting to go to Vancouver B.C. which is also very congested at present. Most of the anchored bulkers are for grain.
Labor: No shortages reported.
In general, container ships are taking anchorage spaces in all areas except the Columbia River at unprecedented levels although Puget Sound is not experiencing quite the same congestion as the California ports.
So far, the labor situation for non-containerized cargo has remained manageable. However, please be aware that this situation is subject to change at any time depending on COVID 19 and the continuing expected crush of container cargo.
REMINDER: This is just a snapshot of current conditions. The situation could improve or deteriorate quickly so please check with your local agent for updates. For up-to-date information from our West Coast offices, please contact the following:
LAX/Long Beach: laxops@gensteam.com
San Francisco Bay area: sfo@gensteam.com
Columbia River area: pdxops@gensteam.com
Puget Sound: seaops@gensteam.com
