US West Coast ports suspend operations

Los Angeles

THE loading and unloading of freighters would be suspended at all 29 US West Coast ports during the past weekend, shipping companies said on Friday, citing chronic cargo backups that the terminal operators and dockworkers' union have blamed on each other during months of labour tensions.

But terminal yard, rail and gate operations at the ports, handling nearly half of US maritime trade and over 70 per cent of imports from Asia, would go on at the discretion of terminal managers through Saturday and Sunday, the Pacific Maritime Association said.