Sept 25 (Askume) – Ports on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts have extended delivery times for importers as they race to clear cargo ahead of a possible strike by dockworkers on Oct. 1.
Ports from New York to Virginia are also making contingency plans to avoid disruptions, with about 45,000 longshoremen affiliated with the International Longshoremen’s Association threatening to hire new workers if their current contracts expire on Sept. 30. If their contracts are not up, they will strike.
The potential closure of 36 ports on the East and Gulf Coasts, including five of the 10 busiest ports in North America, could disrupt already strained supply chains and force companies toYou may be forced to take the goods elsewhere.
Maher and APM of Maersk MAERSKb.CO, a member of the employer bargaining group (USMX), said they would keep terminals at the Port of New York and New Jersey open for an additional two hours to clear cargo.
The Port of New York and New Jersey is the busiest port on the East and Gulf Coasts. It moves an average of 15,000–16,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of cargo per day, amounting to approximately $240 billion per year.
“We are coordinating with partners across the supply chain to prepare for any potential impacts,” said Steve Burns, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ).
As of Saturday, 42 container ships were scheduled to arrive at the Port of New York and New Jersey, one of the biggest ports embroiled in labor disputes, according to S&P Global Ocean Tracking Service SeaWeb. 13 ships are expected to arrive after Sept. 30.
The Port of Savannah’s Garden City Terminal and the Port of Norfolk International Terminal in Virginia have also extended weekend entry times through Sept. 30 to facilitate cargo clearance.
