Major Canadian ports, particularly along the West Coast, are experiencing unprecedented congestion and delays as severe winter weather, ongoing rail service disruptions, and vessel scheduling volatility continue to impact operations.
The Port of Vancouver is at the epicenter of the crisis, with cascading effects reaching terminals across the country and beyond.
At Vancouver, terminal utilization has surged to over 102%, leading to berth delays of up to nine days. Import dwell times have climbed to 4.1 days, while outbound containers are facing delays of 20 to 30 days, primarily due to rail bottlenecks. Both Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC)Â and Canadian National (CN)Â have implemented operating restrictions, such as shorter train lengths and speed reductions, in response to winter conditions, extending cargo transit times by up to two weeks.
Roughly 25% of vessels calling Vancouver are waiting for berths, with some ships, including the MSC Elisa XIII, delayed for more than 16 days. Inconsistent estimated times of arrival (ETAs) and ongoing reshuffling of global shipping alliances have made berth planning significantly more challenging.
On the East Coast, Halifax is facing its own crisis. Adverse North Atlantic weather, limited labor availability, and railcar shortages have pushed rail dwell times to 18 days, with some containers waiting up to 30 days for clearance. Meanwhile, Saint John is contending with gantry crane failures and IT system issues, though terminal utilization has stabilized at 89%. Montreal, while operating more steadily, is adjusting to winter navigation restrictions and managing rail dwell times of 5.1 days amid inconsistent equipment availability.
These Canadian disruptions are part of a broader logistics strain across North America. U.S. ports such as Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Seattle-Tacoma are reporting dwell times between two and seven days. In Mexico, ports like Lázaro Cárdenas are being impacted by road infrastructure problems, while Europe, Asia, and Africa are experiencing delays tied to labor actions, equipment shortages, and extreme weather events.
Implications for Shippers
As the congestion deepens, importers and exporters using Canadian gateways are advised to prepare for:
Extended transit times and late deliveries
Increased demurrage, storage, and congestion-related costs
The need for flexible routing and adaptive logistics strategies
Shipping and logistics providers, including freight forwarders and ocean carriers, are working proactively to communicate updates and explore alternate solutions for affected clients.
For more updates, stay tuned to ongoing reports and consult with your logistics partners regarding routing alternatives and potential delays.
 By: Stuart Chirls