Customer Advisory

Force Majeure – BC Longshore and Terminal Work Stoppage

May 28, 2019

This is to advise that the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) has announced that it will lockout all longshore workers beginning on May 30, 2019 at 0800. This is in response to labor action taken by certain Locals of the ILWU, including a 72- hour strike notice issued on May 25, 2019. For more detailed information about this labor contract negotiation please visit the BCMEA and ILWU websites.

These events constitute Force Majeure, under the tariffs, service agreements, and bills of lading (including waybills) of Westwood Shipping Lines. While Westwood will do its best to minimize the disruption that this causes to our service and to our customers, Westwood reserves its right to conduct operations under the Liberties and Force Majeure clauses and other terms of its bills of lading and customer agreements as may be applicable. In such events, extra costs for handling, rehandling, storage, detention, demurrage, alternate ports, alternate transport, extra third-party costs, and the like will be at the cost and for the account of the shipper/receiver, as indicated in the shipping documents.

Westwood will do its best to keep its ships and cargo moving, and we will continue to work closely with all of our customers to minimize extra costs. At the present time, there is no indication as to when these labor disruptions will end or when circumstances will return to normal. We will keep you updated of any change. Thank you for allowing Westwood to continue to be your carrier during this labor dispute.

As always, please feel free to contact your customer service team if you have any questions or concerns:

Eastbound: 1-800-621-4371
Westbound: 1-800-220-9752

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Westwood Shipping Lines