Updated February 15, 2023
Port of Long Beach News
Here’s the latest on what’s going on at The Port of Long Beach:
The ports of LA and Long Beach have returned to normal operations, due to efforts made by the ports to reduce congestion, along with lowered consumer demand for goods.
East Coast and Gulf ports have also dramatically improved and are nearly congestion-free.
Less congestion is increasing available shipping capacity, helping to lower rates, and shortening transit times.
Current Port of Long Beach Projects
Fireboat Station 20 Under construction
The construction of Fireboat Station 20 is well underway, with workers and engineers dedicated to completing the project on time. Once finished, the station will be located in the inner harbor of the Port of Long Beach, providing easy access to the water for the Fireboat Protector.
The Fireboat Protector is an essential part of the Long Beach Fire Department’s fleet, providing firefighting and rescue capabilities. It is designed to extinguish fires on boats, oil rigs, and other marine structures, as well as to provide emergency medical assistance to those in need on the water.
The new station will provide a permanent home for the Fireboat Protector, ensuring that it can be deployed quickly and efficiently in the event of an emergency. The station will also feature state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to support the firefighters and crew members who operate the vessel.
Overall, the completion of Fireboat Station 20 is a significant development for the Long Beach community, as it will enhance the city’s ability to respond to emergencies on the water and ensure the safety of those who live and work in the surrounding areas.
Terminal Island WYE Rail Project
A triangular rail junction is an important part of any railway network, and improvements to such a junction can have significant benefits for the transportation of goods. The current project involves the construction of new tracks and enhancements to a triangular rail junction, which will enable long trains to be turned and staged more efficiently.
Turning long trains at a triangular junction allows them to be redirected in a different direction without the need for an additional locomotive to be attached to the rear of the train. This results in significant time and cost savings for railway operators and ultimately benefits consumers as well.
Overall, this project will improve the efficiency and safety of the railway network by reducing the need for additional locomotives and reducing the time it takes to stage and turn long trains. It will also lead to cost savings for railway operators, which can be passed on to consumers in the form of lower prices or better service.
Port of Long Beach Congestion
Backed-up ports have become a major factor in the supply chain crisis. The problem is especially pronounced at the Port of Long Beach, one of the busiest ports in the US.
Why are the ports causing so much delay?
Watch this short video to learn:
- Why adding more vessels doesn’t solve the capacity crunch
- Why loading and unloading are key factors in shipping time
- Why getting stuck at the port is so expensive
What Causes Port Congestion?
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Port of Long Beach delays
Everyone is talking about port delays. Here’s what’s really happening.
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are filled to capacity with ships – without the resources to unload and reload all the ships that are waiting.
That means moving containers out of the port is taking too long.
How long?
Many vessels are anchored for two weeks waiting to be unloaded. Two weeks is about the time is takes to sail back to China, so this essentially means the ship is missing the next trip out. And if this ship gets held up again in China, it has now missed two potential voyages.
Port delays mean less capacity for goods
When ships get held up, it means lower capacity.
And lower capacity means higher prices.
With ships that carry such a high quantity of goods, sometimes a day’s delay can mean a loss of half a million dollars. And that cost gets passed on to importers and exporters.
If you want to stay on top of shipping costs, head over to ship.freightos.com to compare quotes instantly. Or, you can follow the Freightos Baltic Index to track rates on a variety of lanes.
