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What’s Currently Going On and What’s New?

As the potential strike date of October 1 approaches, the supply chain is bracing for significant impacts. Terminals along the East and Gulf Coasts are adjusting their operations in real time, especially for hazardous and refrigerated goods, which are at a higher risk of losing monitoring during staff shortages.

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Port Authorities Updates:

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🗽 Port of New York and New Jersey (NYNJ):

- Extended Gate Hours: To manage cargo flow, container terminals are offering additional gate hours. It's crucial to utilize these extra hours to pick up imports, particularly reefers and hazardous goods, to avoid delays if a strike occurs.

- APM Terminals: Gate hours from Sept. 23-27 will be 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., with additional hours on Sept. 28

- Maher Terminals: Gates will be open until 9:00 p.m. from Sept. 23-27, with potential extra hours on Sept. 28-29.

- Port Newark Container Terminal (PNCT): The reefer cutoff will be extended to 4:30 p.m. from Sept. 23-27, and gates will be open on Sept. 28 for specific cargo types.

- Norfolk Southern (NS) and CSX Railroads: Adjustments are being made to curtail hazardous, high-value, and refrigerated shipments to minimize delays.

🎺 New Orleans adds Saturday hours

Saturday hours at the New Orleans Terminal from 8 am to 5 pm on Sept. 28, with a one-hour break from noon to 1 pm. Port officials said any work stoppage from the strike will not increase demurrage charges.

⛰️ Virginia Port Authority:

Cessation of Operations Plan: According to port officials, the Port of Virginia will begin stopping cargo operations on Sept. 30, with the last inbound train delivery scheduled for 8 am. Additionally, all inbound truck gates will close at noon. In a statement, the port said using its Trucker Reservation System (TRS) is “strongly encouraged” on Sept. 30.

At 1 pm on Sept. 30, ocean operations will stop, vessels will be required to sail, and the last outbound train will leave, the port said. All motor carriers must leave the port at that time. At 6 pm, all other container operations will halt. Reefer units will remain plugged in but will not be monitored.

🐿 North Carolina Ports - Port of Wilmington:

Contingency Plan: The container gate will operate extended hours on Sept. 28. By Sept. 30, all vessels must vacate the berth. No impacted rail or intermodal cargo will be worked on or off the rail once the strike begins.

⭐ Port Houston:

Port Houston is not part of the contract negotiations, but it closely monitors the situation. If no agreement is reached, Barbours Cut and Bayport Container Terminals will cease container handling operations on October 1, with export cargo received through Sept. 30.

🌴 Georgia Ports Authority - Port of Savannah:

Truck gates will be open over the weekend at the Garden City Terminal for shippers and their logistics partners to retrieve cargo before October 1, with the port accepting exports, including refrigerated containers, until Monday.

🐊 Jacksonville: partial impact

Two-thirds of JAXPORT’s business, including Puerto Rico cargo, will continue normally.

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What Impacts Can We Expect?

Historically, congestion on the East or Gulf Coasts shifts cargo back to the West Coast, potentially causing backups at U.S. and Canadian ports.

Perishable exports coming through the East and Gulf Coast ports may also face spoilage risks or loss of monitoring, further disrupting the supply chain.

With the election approaching, we may not see government intervention, especially as Biden has lost union endorsements, complicating his position. The last Taft-Hartley Act use was in 2002 by George W. Bush, ending a West Coast port lockout, but the current political landscape is different. Even if Biden steps in, slowdowns are still likely until a contract is finalized.

Other Impacts and Delays: Golden Week

Golden Week is set to coincide with the expected strike date, further compounding supply chain disruptions.

During this week-long national holiday in China, the country—including customs offices—shuts down, halting all imports and exports.

As soon as Golden Week ends, there is typically a rush to clear the backlog of shipments, with ports pushing through a surge of full containers that were stocked up before the holiday. This flurry of activity can create further delays, especially for already stressed supply chains navigating the strike.

What to Look Out For?

As the majority of terminals prepare for potential closures, they may adjust their operating hours to give customers better access to their containers or the ability to return full or empty ones. It’s extremely important to keep track of these changes and understand the specific demurrage policies of each terminal you work with, along with any per diem charges enforced by shipping lines.

For example, the Port of NOLA will pause demurrage fees during the strike and resume when operations restart, while APM Elizabeth will continue to charge fees. Knowing these differences can help you avoid unexpected costs and plan accordingly.

If you need assistance reviewing your freight invoices or understanding terminal fees, schedule a discovery call with our BlueCargo team. We're ready to provide the support you need during this challenging period.


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More articles and guides for the East and Gulf Coasts Strike HERE.

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