On day 10 of the strikes at ports across the Canadian west coast there are now clear signs of boxship queues forming. Vessel tracking data shows four boxships waiting off Prince Rupert and nine off Vancouver.
With the US branch of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union stating that they will not handle diverted ships and given that Prince Rupert can process a maximum of two ships at a time and Vancouver five, each likely with a two- to three-day operation, then today’s vessel count represents at least one full week’s worth of backlog with carriers likely to cease accepting Canada west coast bookings. Vessel tracking data shows there are 15 containerships bound for Vancouver and nine containerships bound for Prince Rupert with the ships now unable to divert to the US.
Talks between striking dockworkers and their employers resumed after four days away from the negotiation table, a statement on Saturday by the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) showed.
The BCMEA and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU Canada) met on Saturday, supported by federal mediators.
Some 7,500 port workers went on strike on July 1 for higher wages.
On Saturday Alberta premier Danielle Smith in a statement said her province supports an immediate recall of parliament to consider legislation to resolve the work stoppage.
