The Port of Oakland announced on Tuesday that a backlog of vessels in San Francisco Bay is clearing thanks mainly to increased manpower at the Port’s docks.
According to the Port’s media release, Tuesday marked the sixth successive day no ships were waiting at anchor for any of its five terminals. That’s in contrast with July when there were as many as 13 vessels in San Francisco Bay anchorage.
Those problems had been largely laid at the door of a labour shortage which appears to have been rectified by the arrival of about 150 dockworkers and around 300 part-time workers over a six-week period.
But the Port and its operators are not getting complacent yet, warning some backlogs could still occur before all longshore labour reinforcements are in place, which could take another six weeks.
The Port’s busiest time of year is autumn and it aims to have all labour needs filled before then, the release says.
