News & Insights

In honor of President’s Day, our offices will be closed on Monday, February 16th. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, February 17th. We recognize this patriotic day as a time to pay tribute to and celebrate our country’s great leaders. We wish everyone a safe and happy extended weekend!

February 12, 2015

More Than 70 Companies Declare Force Majeure on West Coast More than 70 trucking companies have sent letters to the Intermodal Association of North America and steamship lines declaring force majeure—that they won’t be able to fulfill contracts because of unforeseen circumstances, according to news from the Harbor Trucking Association reported by American Shipper. Truckers are being billed for enormous daily charges and demurrage fees for containers and chassis that are sitting waiting for loads or release as a result of congestion at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. Companies are facing hundreds of thousands of […]

February 12, 2015

The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) announced today that vessel operations will be suspended at U.S. West Coast ports. The seaports, which handle some $1 trillion in trade per year, will close on Thursday, 2/12; Saturday, 2/14; Sunday, 2/15; and Monday, 2/16. However, yard, gate and rail operations will continue at terminal operators’ discretion. According to American Shipper, PMA spokesman Wade Gates said the longshoremen are continuing slowdowns “that will soon bring West Coast ports to gridlock. What they’re doing amounts to a strike with pay, and we will reduce the extent to which we pay premium rates for such a […]

February 12, 2015

As west coast port disruption continues due to the International Longshoreman and Warehouse Union labor dispute with the Pacific Maritime Association, shippers pay the price, and international transportation intermediaries need to be aware of potential liability exposures. These types of disruptions wreak havoc within the supply chain and the following consequences should be considered. 1. Accumulation: Cargo at rest is cargo at risk. Port disruption leads to cargo sitting in place on a ship, in the port, or in a warehouse facility awaiting pick-up, and the likelihood of damage or theft increases significantly as these delays mount. Shipper’s Interest Cargo Insurance […]

February 11, 2015

As of 2/5/2015, CBP reported 1,188 activity code 1 electronic Single Transaction Bonds (“eSTBs”) accepted in ACE. Of those bonds, there have been seven bond/entry matches in the system and 360 bonds have been voided. That leaves 821 eSTBs that possibly should have been paper. There are only two entry methods for which eSTBs are allowed, 1) ACE Cargo Release followed by ACE Entry Summary or 2) ACE Entry Summary Certified for ACE Cargo Release. A good rule to follow is that an eSTB is required for any entry fully processed in ACE. Any entry that is filed in ACS, even if the […]

February 10, 2015

PMA Announces Temporary Suspension of West Coast Terminals, Impact on Exporter & Importers   On Wednesday, we issued a news alert sent by Peter Friedman of FBB Relations of a projected lockout on the West Coast. Today, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) announced its member terminals would be halting all vessel loading and unloading operations this weekend, with ports scheduled to operate again on Monday, February 9. Yard, rail and gate operations may continue operating at terminals at the terminal operators’ discretion, according to the PMA.   “In light of ongoing union slowdowns up and down the coast which have […]

February 06, 2015