West Coast Ports Take Action

The AgTC reports that West Coast ports are taking action to improve their performance. With the harvest and holiday seasons approaching, the ports must be prepared to handle the influx of cargo or lose business to East Coast ports.

Below is a brief description of what each port is doing to improve performance:

The Port of Oakland has created a Port Efficiency Task Force that meets weekly to discuss ways in which the port can improve efficiency.

The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are working together and have developed a Supply Chain Core Advisory Group that is strategizing how to best address the peak season cargo increases.

The Ports of Seattle and Tacoma, now known as the Northwest Seaport Alliance, are coordinating meetings between local ILWU leadership, exporters, and terminal operators in Washington state to discuss the organization and improvement of terminals. Finally, the Governor of Oregon has encouraged importers and exporters in the state to attend the Trade & Logistics Initiative (a series of workshops) to strategize how the Port of Portland can help to reach global markets in a more competitive fashion.

West Coast Port Authorities Taking Action

August 11, 2015

This summer, the situation at West Coast ports has worsened– it does not bode well for the “peak shipping season” this Fall-increased volumes of harvest exports, and holiday season imports. The problems are often a result of issues between terminal operators and labor, however West Coast port authorities are stepping into their role as “landlords” and bringing together stakeholders for frank discussion. They realize that unless they can improve their ports, they will lose the cargo to ports in the Gulf and East Coasts. We applaud their efforts, see below for an overview:

Oakland: Oakland has activated a Port Efficiency Task Force. Many AgTC members (exporters and their truckers) are involved. The first meeting was last week. One of our members reports: “It went really well, issues were addressed squarely and everyone was open and participated. No one pointed fingers or did any accusing, but rather everyone knew that there are major problems that need to be addressed and we all opened the door for change and help. Major topics included OakPass, creation of a valley yard (off dock empty depot), and a Grey Chassis Pool.”

LA/Long Beach: These two ports are working closely. They are developing a number of new approaches, several AgTC members are participating in Working Groups designed to improve productivity, to address peak season, etc. Now, a Supply Chain Core Advisory Group is being assembled, meeting in late August. AgTC Executive Director, Peter Friedmann is included as are others representing importers and exporters, and will report back. Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of LA visited the AgTC-ILWU meeting in Long Beach last week and provided remarks.

Success is possible: One of our members, a major importer of fresh produce through both the East and West Coasts, requested AgTC assistance with free time at terminals at the Port of Long Beach. We reached out to senior Port officials, who in turn engaged the terminals to extend free time, saving this AgTC member thousands of dollars.

Northwest Seaport Alliance: Formerly the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma, is coordinating gatherings with ILWU local leadership, terminal operators, and agriculture exporters in Washington state. This includes a roundtable discussion on August 18th in Ellensburg, WA targeted at agriculture exporters. These are well organized and hold promise for improving productivity at the terminals.

Portland: The Governor of Oregon has directed state departments to reach out to Oregon exporters and importers in a Trade & Logistics Initiative. Many agriculture and forest products exporters are participating in the six Workshops, identifying challenges, and developing solutions – how to get products to global markets competitively, now that most container services into the Columbia River have been discontinued. Key takeaways will be compiled in a report to the state legislature. Workshops in Albany (tonight!) and Medford (tomorrow!), register at www.oregontradesolutions.com

Get Engaged! If you would like to lend your expertise and become more involved in any of these port efforts, please let us know- mail@agtrans.org. We will be glad to connect you to these initiatives.