News / East coast port strike threat prompts shippers to consider heading west instead

© Jemastock

Cargo owners have been advised to make contingency plans for a strike at US east and Gulf coast ports that could hit traffic flows as early as 1 October, right in the peak shipping season.

The six-year labour contact between the International Longshoremen Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), covering ports on the eastern US coastline, is set to expire on 30 September.

The ILA represents about 45,000 port workers, while the USMX speaks on behalf of the terminal operators ...