Spotlight on New York Port truckers and intermodal companies pushing the Federal Maritime Commission to initiate a data-sharing order.
Highlights on manufacturing jobs projected to return to the USA, how quantum technology may become subject to geopolitical tensions, Port of Houston achieving a great July, and more.
Trending discussion on the Port of Los Angeles enjoying a record year and announcing it has available capacity to take the pressure off the East Coast ports.
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The port congestion across ports is now spilling into rail and roadways. With more and more containers sitting idle or not moving forward in the supply chain, ports and shippers need to figure out a long-standing solution to this omnipresent problem. One of the solutions being spoken about is the exchange of accurate data throughout the logistics networks. Shippers, carriers, forwarders, and port authorities need to be on the same page regarding where there is inventory and how it will be moving.
With this goal in mind, truckers and intermodal companies are pushing the Federal Maritime Commission for an emergency order on data sharing. The FMC was required to consider the proposed order, which includes a 30-day public comment period expiring Sept. 14, by the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 as a way to help clear supply chain bottlenecks at U.S. ports. The majority of requests so far have come from drayage companies at the Port of New York and New Jersey, where congestion has been on the rise.
Ocean carriers have access to accurate data regarding container shipments. Information like how many of their containers are on the last free day before accruing per diem or demurrage, how many containers will be picked or returned, and more can help port authorities and trucking companies to figure out the volumes they will be ferrying as well.
For terminals that require appointments, companies want the FMC to require them to provide data on the number available for each type of move — specific to a time slot, the ocean carrier, and container size — and document when those appointment slots are fully booked and no longer available by notifying shippers, motor carriers and ocean carriers.
Key Takeaway
Marine terminals that require appointments in order to gain entry do not currently provide enough information about the number and type of appointments made available on any given day. This often leads to the unfair assessment of fees, especially when the ocean carrier billing department believes that a return location was made available, but in reality, the number of returns was strictly limited, and the majority of those who needed an appointment could not get one.
Ultimately, it is important for all the logistics players to be aware of relevant data at all touchpoints so that decisions can be made in tune with business goals. This lack of information can mean losses for intermodal companies, who might have to hold containers when marine terminals are filled to capacity. This data sharing push and resultant initiatives might mean more awareness of supply chain glitches and provide a solution to future congestion troubles.
Highlights
- Manufacturing jobs are returning to the U.S, according to a new report from the Reshoring Initiative, a lobbying group that’s been tracking this since 2010. It says American companies are on pace to reshore nearly 350,000 jobs this year, the highest number in recent history.
- According to a conservative estimate by McKinsey, quantum technologies have attracted US$1.9 billion in the second half of 2021 alone. But regulatory actions prompt the question of whether quantum technology supply chains will be shaped by the types of geopolitical dynamics.
- Port of Houston has achieved the best July and the fourth busiest month in terms of container handling in its history. The total volume last month was 328,498 TEU, which translates to a 10% increase from July 2021.
- The Port of Oakland will spend $2m developing clean energy at its facility. The project includes electrical infrastructure, including solar generation, battery storage systems, a fuel cell, and the replacement of a substation and connecting circuitry.
- The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has released a roadmap to achieve a domestic supply chain in the United States. This new roadmap charts a path to achieving this goal, with a target of 50 GW of annual solar manufacturing capacity by 2030.
Trending
In recent times, the Port of Los Angeles has been in the news due to port congestion and a backlog of ships. But recently, port authorities announced that the Port of Los Angeles is enjoying a record year with terminals that have the capacity to store freight, despite a 3.5% jump in imports.
The Port of Los Angeles processed an estimated 935,345 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in July, outpacing the previous record set in 2019 by 2.5%. The Port has set monthly records in five of seven months in 2022. In a year-over-year comparison, July’s figures reflect a growth rate of 184.7% for intermodal cargo and 35.8% for dry and refrigerated cargo.
The Port of Los Angeles, the busiest in the USA, is reportedly more fluid than in the past year and has managed to whittle down the backlog of ships in the harbor by nearly 90%. While the East Coast ports are battling port congestion, authorities at Los Angeles highlight that the port has space by sharing how the port is consistently moving through the backlog. Even with the current rail challenges, port marine terminals are more fluid than last year, according to authorities.
One of the main reasons for this fluidity was due in part to a port optimizer data portal that allows stakeholders to see around corners and tackle problems before they arise. The sharing of data and information is one of the key factors various entities are looking at to ensure that supply chains remain fluid and freight moves in time.
