Vancouver braces for congestion, high rail dwells through January

The Port of Vancouver is experiencing congestion due to a backlog of rail containers, primarily caused by a confluence of factors:

1. Vessel bunching: An influx of ships arrived simultaneously at Asian ports, delaying their arrival in Vancouver.
2. Pre-Lunar New Year surge: Increased cargo volume ahead of the holiday season further strained capacity.
3. Dockworker strike: A previous strike disrupted operations and contributed to the backlog.
4. Winter weather: Cold weather in Western Canada forced shorter trains, impacting rail network efficiency.

These factors led to significantly increased rail container dwell times at the port in December.

While the situation is challenging, stakeholders are working to address the backlog.​​​​​​​

1. Railroads: CN is working closely with port operators to clear backlogs and expects dwell times to return to normal levels within the next few weeks. CPKC reports efficient railcar movement and good car supply.​​​​​​​
2. Terminal operators: DP World Canada is collaborating with railroads to manage increased import volumes.​​​​​​​
3. Port of Prince Rupert: Successfully mitigated similar challenges and has seen dwell times significantly decrease.

The Port of Vancouver anticipates that high on-dock times will continue for the rest of January, but expects a significant drop in import volumes after the Lunar New Year, which should alleviate congestion.

​​​​​​​To view the full article, visit: https://www.joc.com/article/vancouver-braces-for-congestion-high-rail-dwells-through-january-5919982