Several ports in the eastern United States and the Gulf of Mexico are unveiling their contingency plans in response to a scheduled October 1 strike by dock workers, which includes weekend business as usual. At the same time, some shipping carriers cut new export bookings ahead of possible stoppages and imposed surcharges on shipments to ports that may be closed.When these emergency plans come to the table, the International Dockworkers Association (ILA) has been unable to reach an agreement with the United States Maritime Union (USMX) on a new master contract covering dock workers on the Eastern and Gulf Coast of MexicoThe possibility is growing that ILA President Harold Daggett told his members that once the current contract expires on September 30, the union will not agree to an extension.
The Georgia Port Authority (GPA) said in a customer consultation on Wednesday that shippers should pick up shipments by October 1, noting that if there is a strike, its Garden City Pier in Savannah will be closed by October 1, except for the remaining two Saturdays in September, Garden City will be open in September Open all day, Sunday, 29, for return of goods.
GPA says it will receive export containers, including refrigerated containers, by September 30. But it said that if the fridges were not loaded on the day and the port was closed due to the stoppage, they would not be monitored and maintained. Shipowners will not be charged a dock delay fee during the shutdown.
The Port of Houston notice on Wednesday said its two container docks planned to open truck gates by 7 p.m. on September 30 and work aboard ships, an hour ahead of the exit deadline. The port said it was assessing the need to extend the normal working hours of the pier next week, which is scheduled to open on Saturday, September 28. “We encourage imported goods to be picked up as soon as possible and any goods in the landfill after 7pm on September 30, 2024 will not be able to be picked up until the end of the shutdown,” the notice said. Houston said it would exempt container import stop fees. The Port of Virginia said in an operational alert that it will open its two main container docks and the Pinner's Point container yard, which is used to handle airboxes and chassis, on the next two Saturdays and the Sunday before the strike.
Maritime carriers have not publicly stated what they plan to do in the event of a strike, and ILA has warned USMX carriers it will monitor any ships transferred from ports in the East and Gulf of Mexico. Currently, the shuttle operator is also preparing to end some operations. According to several shippers familiar with the program, Middle and Far Eastern Sea Freight (COSCO) and Transocean Network Express (ONE) are no longer accepting new export bookings from inland destinations in the United States.
HAPAG informs customers that it may speed up the ship and will give priority to imported unloading once ships are docked days before the start of a possible strike. THE SHIPPING COMPANY SAID IT WAS ALSO REVIEWING PORT ROTATION CHANGES OR WHICH PORTS TO IGNORE DURING STRIKES. In addition to halting some cargo bookings, some shipping carriers are also charging new fees for any cargo currently being shipped to ports in the East and Gulf of Mexico that may be affected by the port strike.
HAPAG announced Wednesday that it will impose a work interruption surcharge of $1,000 per TEU for shipments of African Asian exports to the U.S. East and the Gulf of Mexico,30 days' advance notice required under U.S. Shipping Law, the surcharge will take effect on October 18.
CMA CGM announced last week that it will levy a “local port fee” of $1,500 per TEU on cargo shipping to ports in the East and Gulf of Mexico from October 11.
