News
- Backlogs at Vancouver Sea Port
- 1/8/2009
Steamship lines and railways advise building backlogs at Vancouver Sea Port
On Dec 17th, the Vancouver area and much of Washington and northern Oregon began being hit with snow and ice. These conditions lasted until just after Christmas though arterial roads still have snow and ice on them. This weather, coupled with the holiday’s, forced the terminals to run at reduced or zero productivity levels. As a result, rail cars could not be adequately worked and the backlog of inbound intermodal units began.
As of this morning, both Vanterm and Centerm had over 75,000’ of rail cargo on the terminals. This has caused several things to happen.
(1) Elimination of PRS(priority rail service) – normally we could hot list a box for $190 but that option is not longer available because of the backlog
(2) Older units are being buried from cargo off new vessels because the terminals do not have the free space to maintain individual blocks by vessel
(3) Delay in departure of 7-10 days at both terminals
The results on the CP have been equally taxing. The inability of the CP to provide railcars to the terminal and take import container back out resulted in a backlog of cars in their two Vancouver yards. The Coquitlam yard has had units sitting since the 30th of December but fortunately those units were moved out today. The oldest units out there now are from arrivals on the 3rd. The CN is in better shape, due to smaller volumes by carriers using the inner harbour.
Units is loaded on day 7 at the terminal, should not be expected to connect to an EB train for at least 48 hrs. NTG continues to work with the CP on Coquitlam congestion and the CP has listed out a comprehensive plan on addressing the issues they’re facing.
Please understand that the local office and I are receiving a very high number of personal messages regarding requests to expedite units off the terminal that have not moved. We ask that you use the information above to relay what is happening. We can not expedite cargo off the terminal once it’s discharged. I strongly recommend that if a shipper knows they have a hot unit which can not take a 7-10 day departure delay then they should have the unit(s) changed to local and arrange trucking. Once it’s put into an intermodal pile, I will not be able to access it if they want to divert.