The COVID crisis and import surge into the United States has increased ocean carrier revenues and resulted in some companies investing in supply chain operations that will allow them to “get closer to their customers,” says Ulrik Sanders, managing director and senior partner, The Boston Consulting Group, Copenhagen.

ONE’s Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Nixon spoke out against what he described as inefficiencies in U.S. and North American container terminal operations, warehousing, chassis handling and a lack of 24/7 operations.

John Porcari, the Biden Administration’s Port Envoy, has worked with U.S. ports to address the traffic jam of ships, trucks, and rail, says supply chain bottlenecks are easing as a result of collaboration with maritime supply chain stakeholders.

Lucinda Lessley, Acting Administrator for the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) said that MARAD would be responsible for awarding $2 billion in funding created by the President’s Bi-Partisan Infrastructure law through the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP): “The PIDP grants are awarded on a competitive basis to port projects that will improve the movement of goods to, through and around ports.”

As the Canadian demonstrators blocking access to the vital Ambassador Bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario entered a fourth day with no end in sight, the bilateral trade impact of the protest movement against COVID-19 measures is rapidly escalating.

Mario Cordero, executive director of the Port of Long Beach said in his “State of the Port of Long Beach” address that the Port “had its busiest year ever” in 2021, moving 9.4 million TEUs compared to 8.11 million TEUs in 2020.

Container shipping analyst Lars Jensen, the principal at Copenhagen-based Vespucci Maritime Consulting, warned that tensions between Russia and the Ukraine could spill out into cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, including ports.

Blockage of the Suez Canal in 2021 by the merchant vessel Ever Given was a physical reminder of the vulnerability of global trade and how easily it can be disrupted. Beyond failures of physical infrastructure sit largely invisible threats to the administration of global supply chains.

Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan defended the decision by Port Commissioners and the City of Oakland to proceed with negotiations for the Oakland A’s to locate a baseball park and condominium complex at the Port’s Howard Terminal site.

Paul Matthews, the new executive director of the Port of South Louisiana, says recent enactment of the new Infrastructure Bill signed by the President and supported by the Louisiana Congressional delegation will help Louisiana and Mississippi ports expand and provide an alternative to congestion at West Coast and East Coast ports