65 containerships waiting at LA/LB ports, up 33% in a week

Photo: Courtesy of the Port of Los Angeles San Pedro Bay Aerial shot
San Pedro Bay
The number of containerships waiting to enter the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach continue to pile up an alarming rate reaching 65 on Friday.

According to the Marine Exchange of Southern California there were 65 boxships waiting in the anchorages and drift areas in San Pedro Bay outside the Ports of LA/LB. Drift areas are increasingly being used for waiting containerships as the designated anchorages are already full.

The number of boxships waiting to berth at LA/LB is now more than double the two ports can handle at any one time. There 30 containerships at berth on Friday according to the Marine Exchange.

In the space of a week the number of containerships waiting to berth has increased by 33% have stood at 49 on 10 September. The ports were already seen as being at saturation point when just half the current number of vessels was queued at anchor earlier this year.