Little sign of congestion on day three of Canada’s port strikes 

On day three of the strike at Canada’s west coast ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert there is little sign of congestion building. 

The well-telegraphed strike called by Canada’s branch of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union looks to have been well factored in by global carriers with very few containerships in the area today, and some ships clearly deviating to ports south of the border. 

The ILWU’s contract with the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association ran out at the end of March with the union keen not to have a situation similar to the US west coast where contract negotiations carried on for more than a year after a previous labour agreement expired in the first half of 2022. 

In Vancouver’s outer anchorage there a number of bulk carriers waiting for berths but no sign of boxships backing up, while the union has stressed it will continue to service cruiseships during its period of industrial action. 

At Prince Rupert, meanwhile, ship tracking data today shows minimal traffic with no vessels backing up. 

A quarter of Canada’s total traded goods flow through Vancouver and Prince Rupert, representing more than $604m worth of cargo each day.