A new record has been set for the number of vessels waiting for berthing space outside the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and it’s not looking good for the two major U.S. gateways. According to Business Insider, the line of 44 container ships currently sitting off the coast of California have the ongoing “labor shortage, COVID-19-related disruptions, and holiday-buying surges,” to blame for the growing congestion.
On the other side of the country, the Port of New York and New Jersey is similarly struggling with rising berthing delays at the onset of the holiday shopping season as carriers continue to add more services to keep up with increasing demand. And in the midst of all this shipping chaos, new data shows smaller American importers are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to freight pricing and market share.
According to Supply Chain Dive, “some cargo owners believe that consolidation has played a role in the high rates and increased inability to secure space for their goods.” While industry regulators take a closer look at ocean carrier alliances and their impact on today’s shipping struggles, autonomous shipping is striving to achieve widespread adoption down the line in the form of a groundbreaking 236-mile voyage.
To stay updated on “the world’s first test of an autonomous ship in an area with heavy marine traffic,” or to follow up on any of this week’s other top international shipping news, check out the links below:
