Record 79 containerships queued at Los Angeles & Long Beach ports

The number of containerships waiting in San Pedro Bay to berth at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach has surged to a new all-time high of 79.

CALIFORNIA : According to the Marine Exchange of Southern California the number of containerships at anchor or in holding areas for the two ports was 79 on 21 October was 79, while 29 vessels were at berth. This is an increase of eight vessels waiting in San Pedro Bay since Wednesday, a day earlier, while the number being worked on in ports dropped by four.

The Marine Exchange had said that it expected it elevated and record levels of vessels in port, with vessels with in 40 miles of the LA/LB port complex considered to be “in port”.

Overall, on Thursday there were 169 ships in port with 109 at anchor either in designated anchorages or holding areas used once the anchorages are full up. A total of 55 vessels were in holding areas including 44 containerships, as well as three tankers and eight bulkers.

According to the Marine Exchange the normal number of vessels at anchor in 2018/2019 at the two Southern Californian ports was 17, meaning that the number of ships at anchor is now 93 above the normal level.

The Biden administration has moved to get ports working 24/7 in an effort to clear the backlog, however, severe congestion now runs throughout the supply chain.