The CRCBFA would like to provide an update to our members that we have received from CBIFFAWS regarding challenges at the terminals in Tacoma.
Several Seattle/Tacoma terminals have advised that for now the congestion being experienced is isolated to Husky and WUT.
PCT, Terminals 5, 18 & 30 are all still running smoothly as usual.
It’s recommended at this time to route around the congestion by avoiding bookings on carriers that call Husky and WUT; and by making bookings on vessels calling one of the other area terminals.
The congestion is said to be caused by a surge in rail cargo in Tacoma due to wildfires in Canada and the ongoing threat of a rail strike there.
Below is a note that was received this week:
Both Tacoma terminal, Husky and WUT are getting worse, regrettably.
Already the situation was not good from around mid June and vessel waiting time for Tacoma was getting more than 1 week.
But from this week, the situation is getting drastically worse and waiting time for PN service vessels is forecasted to be more than 3 weeks.
This is mainly due to "Rail Car Shortage" and both terminals are adjusting vessel gang assignments and extending port stays to limit import IPI volumes.
Due to this adjustment, each vessel's port stay is getting prolonged and waiting time for each vessel is forecasted to be longer and longer.
Now most of PN1/2 vessels are proposed or already agreed COR and proceed Vancouver first to reduce waiting time for Tacoma.
On top of this, several vessels have agreed to discharge TIW cargo (for both Local and IPI) to Seattle T18 and several vessels are under discussion as follows to ease the TIW terminal congestion but shifting to Seattle is only a bandage to help reduce the vessel lineup in the short term.
Rail units will dwell at Seattle as both Seattle and Tacoma face the same UP and rail car supply issues. T18 has space to absorb units in the short run.
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