As the work stoppage at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach continues amid calls for Presidential intervention, sailings have been affected.

OOCL advised customers that as of December 3, 2012, it had only diverted two vessels from the Los Angeles/Long Beach docks. The line said its Dallas Express 069W PAX service had been diverted to Ensenada (ESE), Mexico and approximately 100 OOCL Los Angeles import containers were discharged. Its Pusan Express 004E PAX service bypassed Los Angeles and sailed to Manzanillo, Panama where the Los Angeles import containers were scheduled to be discharged.

At this point, OOCL had not diverted any other vessels, telling customers that vessels that are diverted lose their place in the queue for gang orders and, once the work stoppage had ended, this could put shipments further behind schedule.

Effective December 4th, OOCL said it would not be providing equipment for intermodal bookings, nor would it be accepting intermodal export bookings intended for either Los Angeles or Long Beach load port gateways during the work stoppage. It noted that Trans-Atlantic Trade shipments with cargo origins of Los Angeles or Long Beach would be accepted for loading out of Houston or East Coast load ports.

For reefer cargo, OOCL said it is not releasing any reefer equipment, nor accepting bookings for Trans-Pacific Trade bookings with a Los Angeles or Long Beach origin until the work stoppage is over.

No reefer equipment is being released for export Intermodal shipments via Los Angeles or Long Beach ports from any origin, the company said. For Trans-Atlantic Trade reefer shipments with cargo origin of Los Angeles or Long Beach, the company is accepting bookings and receiving reefer equipment for return to the rail ramp. Intermodal shipments via the Pacific Northwest or US East Coast port gateway are acceptable and is subject to plug/space availability as long as a rate is on file, the company said.

Customers with shipments affected by the work stoppage are being notified directly via email on a vessel/voyage basis and are being advised with shipment- and container-specific information. Due to the work stoppage, said OOCL, vessels with a voyage through Los Angeles or Long Beach ports will have frequent schedule changes. Updated vessel sailing schedules will be available and revised notifications will be provided to customers directly upon resumption of port operations, the company said.

Once the work stoppage has ended, heavy congestion is expected at the ports. Vessels that are docked will be worked in the order they arrived, said OOCL. In addition, the company expects some rail and intermodal delays as well when the work stoppage ends.