While Hurricane Helene has the focus of much of the U.S. right now, there are two other developing stories we are also keeping an eye on.
We turn our attention to the West Coast - where our carrier partners have alerted us to Los Angeles port terminal closures due to a lithium battery spill on the terminal bridge. Due to the nature of the batteries, the smoke and high heat has closed the Vincent Tomas Bridge until it is safe for crews to remove the debris. No injuries are reported at this time.
Per a post by the Port of Los Angeles "APM Terminals, Fenix Marine, Everport and Yusen Terminals will be closed Friday as local fire, hazmat and police agencies continue to work on scene. Trapac and West Basin Container Terminal will remain open, along with the World Cruise Center." Reports indicate that the terminals will likely re-open on Monday.
Image courtesy of Google Maps
Back to the East Coast, in Montreal, Canada a 72-hour strike notice has been issued for two terminals operated by Termont Montréal. The local longshoreman's union has been in negotiations since Dec. 31, 2023 since their previous contract expired. Should the strike occur, it will go from 7 AM Eastern Monday, Sept. 30 to 7 AM Eastern Thursday, Oct. 3. This work stoppage would halt two of the five terminals in Montreal port resulting in local backups and delays. This is a developing story and a news conference with more information is expected to be held later today.
We will continue to monitor all three stories into the weekend; Hurricane Helene, Long Beach Terminals closures, and a potential Montreal port strike. We will provide updates as we learn more, however please reach out to your Freight Manager or Warehouse Manager with any questions should you be concerned about specific projects, loads, or areas.
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