Network Alert 1- ILWU Canada Tentative Deal

Hard Deck Logistics is following that the ILWU Canada (International Longshore and Warehouse Union of Canada) and the BCMEA (British Columbia Maritime Employers Association) announced yet another tentative deal on Sunday after recent work stoppages that have caused much disruption to supply chains.  Specific terms of the deal are still forthcoming however the ILWU Canada has posted notice today (see below notice) that voting will take place on Aug 3 and Friday, Aug 4th. The consensus seems to be one of optimism as voting is set to take place, however, time will tell. 

 

Until the voting and the future is certain, many shippers have suspended routings both to British Columbia ports, as well as Mini Land Bridge rail ("MLB") cargo through British Columbia ports. According to shipping data intel, nearly 20 sailings to Canadian ports have been canceled and there have been billions of dollars of stranded cargoes on the water or at port at some point or another during the last few weeks while this debacle has been taking place. 

 

Noticeably, to highlight rail impact, the disruption has taken a hit on the profitability of numerous operating rail companies and has caused much delay to planned rail schedules to and from B.C. Canada Ocean ports. Hard Deck Logistics has been tracking numerous ocean containers and for at least three major ocean carriers, their MLB cargoes have in some cases taken more than a week more than the original planned rail departure dates to leave Vancouver ports (once the strikes ended). Some of the containers that arrived at the height of the strikes have been delayed nearly 30 days in total. 

 

There is mounting political pressure to finalize a deal. Hard Deck Logistics will continue to provide information as more news develops.