Carriers Add Ships to Ease US West Coast Congestion Woes

Container ships deployed on Transpacific routes have experienced delays of up to three weeks as congestion gridlocks the U.S. West Coast ports, according to Alphaliner.

The current congestion is the worst one ever recorded in the U.S. history, and carriers are deploying additional vessels to lessen additional costs caused by the delays.

Alphaliner explains that this extra tonnage is necessary to keep in line with sailing schedules and move container equipment now stranded in the West Coast ports across the Pacific.

Carriers have so far introduced 36 new ships with combined capacity of 233,000 TEUs to the FE-USWC trade.

But the cloud looming over the West Coast ports has brought a silver lining to the U.S. East Coast ports, with the diversion of cargo from West to East increasing demand in the FE-USEC trade and propelling the spot rates on the route to historic levels.

World Maritime News Staff; Image: POLB