UPDATE: U.S./Canada Ports – Number of Vessels at Anchor as of 09-06-22 

• Savannah: 43 Vessels at Anchor (+2) 
• Houston: 36 Vessels at Anchor (-3) 
• Vancouver: 34 Vessels at Anchor (+4) 
• New York/Newark: 22 Vessels at Anchor (+3) 
• Los Angeles/Long Beach: 13 Vessels at Anchor (+4) 
• Mobile: 13 Vessels at Anchor  
• San Francisco/Oakland: 8 Vessels at Anchor (-3) 
• Charleston: 1 Vessels at Anchor (0) 

Note: This count does not include vessels moored and being unloaded at port docks. Colored numbers in parentheses represents the change from last week over.  

Courtesy: MarineTraffic  

IMPORT: Asia to North America (TPEB)  

Recent Developments:  

• Container line services from Asian ports of Shanghai, Ningbo, and Busan are facing delays after coastal areas of eastern China and South Korea were hit by Typhoon Hinnamor over the weekend.  
• While rates continue a downward trend, U.S. port congestion and intermodal delays remain heavy players to unreliable scheduling.  
• Contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) remain active. The existing labor contract between the two parties expired July 1.  
• A union representing security guards at Los Angeles and Long Beach ports authorized a strike last week. While the union’s contract is separate from the West Coast longshore contract, see our ‘Freight News’ section below on what this means for ongoing negotiations between the ILWU and PMA.  

Rates: Spot rates from Asia to the U.S. coasts continue to decrease as demand from shippers has softened (in large part to over-ordering earlier in the year). The traditional cycle of peak season remains delayed as shipper demand and volumes continue trending downwards as well.  
Space: Space is generally open at this time.  
Capacity: Capacity has tightened in pockets. Shippers continue to divert cargo to the USEC due to fears of disruptions at West Coast ports from ongoing labor talks.  
Equipment: Some inland terminals are reaching max capacity with inventory. Intermodal systems remain stressed with congestion and truck and chassis deficits. 

• North American chassis manufacturers have ran into production delays in 2022 (for the second consecutive year), reports indicate. This stems from difficulties in sourcing raw components and retaining factory workers.  

TIPS:  

• Book at least two weeks prior to the ready date.  
• For cargo ready now, take advantage of opening space and fallen rates on the spot market.  
• Reconsider averting West Coast routings. The “hot spots” for ship congestion and vessel wait times has shifted to the East Coast.  

Did peak season for 2022 already happen? Will there be surges in volumes before the end of the year? This is a subject of the September edition of our Interlog Insights Newsletter!  

IMPORT: Europe to North America (TAWB) 

Recent Developments:  

• Northern European hubs remain critically congested. Labor-related tensions continue to pose disruptions to ports in the region.  
• In parallel fashion to Felixstowe’s walkouts last month, more than 560 dockworkers at Britain’s Port of Liverpool are planning to strike September 19 to October 3 over an “inadequate” pay raise offer.  
• USWC ports have seen alleviated congestion and improvements to vessel waiting times.  
• On the USEC, both ports of New York/Newark and Savannah remain having a significant number of backlogged vessels at anchor off their respective shores. 
• The Port of Houston, on the U.S. Gulf Coast, is also grappling with vessel congestion.  

Rates: Rates remain elevated but are holding steady for the foreseeable future. Higher fuel costs are contributing to rate increases. 
Space: Space remains critical to the USEC. However, space has opened for direct routings to the USWC.  
Capacity: Capacity for both North Europe and Mediterranean services remain gripped.  
Equipment: Equipment at European seaports is not as readily available as it has been for the past few months. Inland terminals in Europe are also still reporting equipment shortages. On the U.S. side, truck and chassis availability remain concerning, especially with the latter.  

TIPS:  

• Book five or more weeks prior to ready date.  
• Strongly consider premium services for no-roll options and improved reliability of cargo.  

EXPORT: North America to Asia 

Recent Developments: 

• For the USEC, port congestion remains an issue for Savannah and New York/Newark.  
• Diminished schedule integrity continues to challenge post earliest return dates. 
• Vessel arrivals remain smooth for USWC POLs. 

Rates: So far, no GRIs announced for September.   
Capacity: Available capacity remains fluid for USWC POLs.  
Equipment: Truck, container, and chassis availability remains dire and has significantly contributed to congestion of the intermodal system and IPI origins. Standard equipment at ports remains available unless carriers advise otherwise.  
TIPS:  

• Book four to five weeks prior to the time of departure to secure necessary equipment and vessel space.