A flotilla of almost a dozen cargo vessels sits anchored just south of Los Angeles this weekend, waiting for berth space. Around the twin ports of L.A. and Long Beach, shipping containers are already stacked five and six high -- the maximum the fire department will allow. The finger-pointing has intensified, and federal regulators have started investigating the source of problems around major port areas like Los Angeles and New York. At the height of traffic snarls last year, lines of trucks snaked back more than six miles waiting to be serviced. Container volumes from April to the end of October were down 15% from a year ago, even amid a surge in exports of a healthy lockdown food — citrus fruits.

Source: Los Angeles Times November 22, 2020 23:11 UTC