Over 350 ships are stuck or rerouted due to the shutdown of ports by striking members of the International Longshoremen Association (ILA). Employers, represented by the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), have yet to reach an agreement with the union, and negotiations remain stalled.
The strike's impact is substantial, with Sea-Intelligence estimating a loss of 775,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) in capacity in the first week alone. Even if the strike is resolved in the coming weeks, a weekly reduction of 443,000 TEU is expected. Should the strike last a month, nearly 7% of the global fleet could be tied up along the US East Coast, creating significant supply chain challenges.
On the second day of the strike, 368 vessels were bound for ILA-affected ports, up from 348 the previous day, with some rerouted to ports in the Bahamas, Halifax, and Panama. The value of goods affected has risen to $40 billion, up from $38 billion on the first day.
Despite threats against union leaders, including ILA President Harold Daggett, the strike continues with no immediate resolution in sight.