Trump’s activation of Defense Production Act could expedite delivery of medical supplies, support jobs and investments in infrastructure, transportation, manufacturing and renewable energy.

Logistics professionals are invisible heroes, striving to maintain business as usual in the light of the outbreak.

A regulatory saga that for several years has plagued a major container terminal project proposed by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA) is showing no signs of abating, and a final decision by the Canadian federal government has been delayed until November in light of the circumstances surrounding COVID-19.

On April 16th, the Port of Oakland hosted Mediterranean Shipping Company’s MSC Anna, a 19,200 20-foot container ship, which is one of the largest container ships ever to dock at a North American port.

Los Angeles logistics chief fast-tracking medical supplies distribution and production

At the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Weston LaBar, president of the Harbor Trucking Association says that there have been no reported COVID-19 cases among drivers and that marine terminals and trucking companies have been working together to source protective gear and sanitary supplies for drivers.

The United States is facing an unprecedented demand-side crisis as a result of the Coronavirus shutting down major sectors of the economy crippling prospects for recovery, increasing dislocations for trucking and more downturns at ports, warehouses and distribution centers, according to Jock O’Connell, an economist with the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) and Beacon Economics.

Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero says: “We are coping with an unpredicted crisis caused by COVID-19 virus and the threats it poses to the supply chain.”

Carnival Corporation has offered up to 15 cruise ships to be deployed as possible hospital ships for non-Coronavirus – COVID-19 - hospital patients, according to Roger Frizzell, Carnival’s chief communications officer, based in Miami.

In a press conference, today, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka gave a wide-ranging report addressing contamination threats to workers from the Coronavirus and working with maritime partners to keep the Port operational in response to supply chain disruptions in China and the United States.