In a year that has set records for the number of ships coming and going through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Friday was not unusual. But the status quo, compared to previous years, was extraordinary, given the heavy concentration of ships waiting offshore to deliver cargo. Container ship traffic has increased fivefold since 2019, and supply chains, affected by production slowdowns and high consumer demand related to the pandemic, are in an unprecedented bottleneck.
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How a coast crowded with ships, port gridlock and an anchor may have caused O.C. oil spill
“When did the strain occur?” he asked. “Days before? Or did something in its operation cause it to rupture Friday night? The forensic science is sophisticated, and they should be able to tell if the damage was delayed or immediate.”
