New Program at Port of L.A. to Speed Up Cargo Shipments
The Port of Los Angeles has implemented a new program to speed cargo to clear the backlog of containers and move shipments faster in the future.
The system involves “peeling off” containers of high-volume customers to a near-dock ,where they are sorted for destination to inland distribution centers, according to the port.
Dockworkers, carriers and shippers are tackling up to 500,000 shipments that piled up during talks between the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.
"While the program is geared for high-volume shippers, all customers benefit," Port of L.A. Executive Director Gene Seroka said in a statement. "Increasing terminal productivity has a positive ripple effect for everyone moving cargo through our port."
Planning for the program began before the recent congestion problems, according to the port, and the new yard is open six days a week from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. and can stage up to 500 containers.
The port said it plans to expand the facility as demand grows. It will be able to stage 650 containers and operate 24 hours a day.
"We’ve created something that’s going to work for years to come," said Jeff Burgin, senior vice president of Pasha Stevedoring & Terminals, which is managing the near-dock "peel off" yard. "We’re prepared to expand this model throughout the harbor."
Cargo owners can move their containers through the yard in less than 48 hours and make those trips at night during off-peak traffic hours, according to the port.
The companies involved with the yard also are coordinating with the new interchangeable chassis pool that began March 1.
ILWU workers handle all gate and terminal operations at the yard, including on-site chassis inspection, maintenance and repair.
New #peeloff program that expedites cargo by streamlining container moves speeds up operations http://t.co/jHy6AwzYI0 pic.twitter.com/YkMKOAAyMO
— Port of Los Angeles (@PortofLA) March 9, 2015
