With just five days to go before the October 1 strike of dockworkers on the East Coast of the United States, the Port of New York-New Jersey, the largest container port in the East of the United States and the second largest in the United States, issued an open letter to the outside world today. In a letter signed by Port Authority of New York-New Jersey Bethann Rooney, the largest port in the eastern United States issued its starkest warning to all shipping companies, shippers and logistics companies regarding the handling of all incoming and outgoing cargoes, particularly hazardous and freezer cargoes, before and after the strike.

Bethann Rooney, the Port Authority director for the Port of New York-New Jersey, reminded all shippers: "You must do everything possible to pick up your imports before the close of business next Monday, September 30, because once the strike begins, there will be no opportunity to deliver anything." "No terminal will accept export cargoes unless they can be shipped before September 30." "Please coordinate closely with your sea carrier for any export bookings, as the terminal will not accept cargo from vessels scheduled to arrive after September 30." "Shippers should give priority to reefer containers and dangerous goods as terminals will no longer be monitored or adjusted after September 30." Port Authority President Bethann Rooney of the Port of New York-New Jersey also said the port plans to set up an incident management team during the shutdown, but gave no details. "With all parties looking to move containers out of the terminal before it closes, we are expecting significant congestion this weekend as well as next Monday, September 30, so we advise you to pick up your containers as early as possible this week and take advantage of all available gate opening hours," Rooney advised.

Terminal operators APM Terminals, Maher and Port Newark Container Terminal have announced they will extend gate opening hours.

In addition, the port truck service center will be closed during the shutdown. The last train in and out of the port will also leave next Monday, and the last CSX train will arrive at the port on Sunday. Norfolk Southern earlier announced it was closing doors at multiple ports and said shippers should have alternative plans for transporting dangerous goods, high-value and refrigerated international cargoes to avoid unexpected delays en route.

Shenzhen Xunlaitong specializes in shipping export from Shenzhen to Australia & New Zealand, Germany, Netherlands and more business

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