Port of Oakland Reports Less Congestion

A vessel backlog constricting containerized trade since January has eased at the Port of Oakland. The port said today there are no vessels in San Francisco Bay or outside the Golden Gate awaiting berths.

This is the first time since January that all ships calling Oakland have berthed without delay. Port officials said it’s the strongest evidence yet that a West Cargo cargo slowdown is on the wane here. As recently as last month, up to 20 vessels a day were lined up waiting to dock.

“When a ship comes to Oakland, it goes straight to berth and we go straight to work loading and unloading,” said Port Maritime Director John Driscoll. “No more delays: that’s the message we’re sending to our customers and the shipping lines that carry their cargo.”

At Navis World 2015, shippers were told that many vessels discharging cargo at LA/Long Beach were simply cancelling their calls to Oakland in recent weeks.

“The congestion was so severe in San Pedro Bay that some ships simply did not come to Oakland for export cargo,” said Greg White, senior vice president of Ports America. “Carriers were having a hard time staying on schedule for their calls to Asia.”

Ports from Seattle to San Diego have coped with a backlog of ships and cargo since late 2014. That was the consequence of a nine-month impasse in negotiating a new waterfront labor contract. Oakland has been recovering from the cargo buildup since a tentative contract settlement was reached Feb. 20.

Port officials said most ships are in-and-out of Oakland within two days. That’s a significant improvement from recent months when vessel calls could last 4-to-5 days. Cargo owners are receiving containerized imports shortly after the boxes are discharged from vessels, the port said. Until recently, customers could wait weeks for shipments.

Though the port has caught up with the cargo backlog, it warned that temporary buildups could recur. The reason: Up to 10 ships remain anchored at severely congested Southern California ports awaiting berths. As that logjam breaks, the vessels will likely arrive off-schedule and in bunches at Oakland, their next stop.

The port reported heavy truck traffic this week at some terminal entrances as drivers attempted to pick up cargo. The port said the backup was expected following closures at several terminals Tuesday for Cesar Chavez Day, honoring the late labor activist.

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