Posted on 08/01/2021 1:00:29 PM PDT by blam
Total ships includes vessels at berth in Los Angeles and Long Beach, plus ships at anchor in San Pedro Bay. Chart by American Shipper based on data from Marine Exchange of Southern California
Anchorages across US
In the second quarter, as congestion temporarily eased in Southern California, the numbers grew in Northern California: in San Francisco Bay off Oakland, and in the Pacific, where a large number of container ships were drifting, awaiting Oakland berths. Between anchored and drifting ships, more than 20 container vessels were frequently waiting for berths in Oakland in the second quarter.
The situation in Northern California has improved, at least for now. As of Friday, automatic identification system (AIS) ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic showed only three container ships drifting in the Pacific and six at anchor in San Francisco Bay.
(Map: MarineTraffic)
Further to the north, the situation is not good. According to MarineTraffic AIS data, there were 16 ships scattered in various anchorages in the Pacific Northwest on Friday awaiting berths in Seattle or Tacoma: one each off Everett, Victoria, Port Angeles and Vashon Island; two each off Seattle and Bellingham, and three each off Manchester, Bellingham and Whidbey Island.
(Map: MarineTraffic)
Over on the East Coast, where dredging slowed the cargo flow at the Port of Savannah over the past month, there were 17 container ships at anchor off Georgia’s Tybee Island on Friday afternoon, according to MarineTraffic AIS data.
(Map: MarineTraffic)
Just to the north in South Carolina, off the port of Charleston, three ships were at anchor on Friday.
On the Gulf Coast, yet another cluster of ships was at anchor, awaiting berths. In the wake of a two-and-a-half-day closure of Houston’s Bayport and Barbours Cut terminals due to a “hardware failure,” MarineTraffic AIS data showed seven container ships at anchor in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday afternoon.
(Map: MarineTraffic)
Altogether, around 80 container ships are awaiting berths at ports on all three U.S. coastlines. And peak season is now set to begin in earnest, implying even more congestion ahead.
I ride my bicycle to Seal Beach a couple times every week, I end up between the Jetty and the pier, it’s unbelievable how many ships are sitting off the coast.
I played a Scrabble game every day at $50.00 a game. I got so good that no-one could beat me and they finally quit playing with me.
I Can’t help wondering how many illegals from all around the world “jump” ship in those harbors.
The Longshoremen are not working 24/7 - the shippers and the Ocean carriers refuse to pay the overtime rates.
In China, the ports are open and loading 24/7 - 365 - California labor laws is what is causing the ships to stay unloaded.
Anchorages? Plural? I only knew of the one in Alaska, but it turns out there is another one in Kentucky (near Louisville).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.