Gene Seroka, the executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, is currently meeting with top shipping officials in Asia as labor negotiations at West Coast ports continue. Seroka is on-hand to discuss how partners can help ensure cargo reaches its destination; topics include how cargo is most efficiently stacked aboard outgoing ships.
In other updates, the Port of Los Angeles has pulled three chassis leasing companies together to create a chassis pool that will begin next February, and has offered up property adjacent to the terminals for near-dock facility use, such as cargo and chassis storage. The port is also having active discussions with rail companies to improve operations through cargo consolidation, and working with rail companies to speed up transportation of cargo.
The International Longshore Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) have been engaged in labor negotiations since last May, but have yet to reach an agreement on their contract, which expired in July. Both sides are expected to meet and continue negotiations next Monday.
