North American Shipping Vessel Delays on the East and West Coasts

As we have talked about before, there is currently a major worldwide supply chain problem that is due to a number of factors. One of these factors is delays at many shipping ports. These types of delays affect how long it takes for a container ship to dock after it arrives, and how long it takes to load or unload its cargo. In today’s article, we would like to talk about some the shipping vessel delays that are happening on the east and west coasts of North America. 

Early July saw port congestion in North America at record levels. Worldwide, roughly 40 percent of container ships were in port, which is about a 10 percent increase over pre-pandemic levels. What this means is that container ships are spending more time in port than they used to, and this cuts into shipping efficiency. 

East Coast Shipping Vessel Delays

On the east coast of North American there have been delays of one to three weeks for ships waiting to dock off of New Jersey and Savannah, Georgia.

West Coast Shipping Vessel Delays

On the west coast, there are delays of one to three weeks for ships waiting to dock off of Oakland, California. 

Challenges at the Port of Vancouver

The Port of Vancouver has some very specific problems. Many of the delays here are due to railroad delays. Railways across Canada, and specifically to Toronto, are very backed up, which translates into delays offloading cargo from container ships, and delays getting ships into and out of port. 

If you need some help with your shipping and logistics and you are experiencing delays, please contact Overseas Container Logistics in Vancouver at (604) 295-8236, and let us help you find the best solution for your shipping needs.

Overseas Container Logistics (OCL) is a 3PL commercial freight-forwarding company based in Richmond, British Columbia. 

If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about your transportation and freight needs, give us a call at (604) 295-8236.