Amazing Aerial Video of America’s Supply Chain Backlog

Click the image above to watch incredible aerial footage of the supply chain backlog at the Port of California

Video by the Wall Street Journal was released on October 22 with stunning aerial footage showing container ships waiting to unload at California’s Port of Los Angeles. The exclusive video, which features insight from WSJ editors and reporters, shows the scope of America’s supply chain problem and the complexities of the process.

According to the video, as many as 73 container ships were waiting to unload goods at ports in Long Beach and Los Angeles last week. Neighboring ports, which move more than 25% of all American imports, have become a critical choke point in the global supply chain.

Pre-pandemic, it was unusual for ships to wait for a berth. Now, the average wait time at the Port of Los Angeles is 13 days, and port officials estimate that 250,000 containers are idling on the water waiting to deliver goods. 

Before the pandemic, container ships were unloaded and reloaded in three to four days. Today, it is taking six to seven days for this process to occur.  Port of Los Angeles tarmacs usually operate at 60-80% capacity. Now, it is estimated that they’re running at 90% capacity.

In mid-October, the White House announced that the Port of Los Angeles would increase to 24/7 operations to try and clear the backlog.

Click here to watch the incredible video released by The Wall Street Journal.

Story via: The Wall Street Journal
Video by: Emma Scott, Preston Jessee, Frank Matt
Aerial Cinematography by: Thomas C. Miller, Group 3 Aviation, Inc.