US Ports appeal for $3.5 billion in pandemic relief funding

The profitability of further decarbonization efforts at US ports is uncertain due to funding reliance on grants and loans, with alternative fuel adoption also hindered by uncertainties in fuel pathways.

The global container market grew by 1.5% to 173.5 million TEU in 2023, but without COVID-19, it would have reached 198.1 million TEU.

Ports on the east of the US face a triple challenge from the drought in Panama, the Suez Canal security issue, and the ILA’s determination to fight automation.

Ports America and NAWE say it is “quite frankly astonishing” that the FMC would seek to limit a marine terminal operator’s ability to charge demurrage in its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

The American Association of Ports Authorities (AAPA) says there is no national security threat from Chinese cranes; China might consider the extent to which US software presents a risk at its own ports.

All three ports saw container numbers decline in 2022, but Los Angeles held its position as the largest container port by volume in the US.