ILA Strike Hits 2nd Day: Vessels pile up and divert from ports

Posted on October 3, 2024   |  

The number of ships waiting off the U.S. East Coast is quickly rising, with some diverting due to the ongoing ILA strike.

Government intervention appears unlikely, as the Biden administration supports the union and advises carriers.

Major carriers are taking a "wait and see" approach, allowing ships to pile up at key ports.

The backlog of vessels grew by 20% within the first 24 hours of the strike.

The number of waiting ships increased from three on Sunday to 45 by Wednesday morning.

Over 300,000 TEU are currently stranded offshore, doubling in just two days, with more increases expected.

Experts estimate the queue could reach 100 ships by the end of the week, with over 200 containerships expected at U.S. ports during the first week of the strike.