Port of Oakland Backed Up with Stacks of Hanjin Containers

The Port of Oakland said that it has Hanjin Shipping containers stacked five high. (Image via San Francisco Business Times)

The Hanjin Shipping saga continues, as the Port of Oakland is experiencing a major backup as empty shipping containers from the bankrupt Korean shipping company are blocking other shipments from reaching chassis bases.

"Port of Oakland has about 900 Hanjin empties right now, and we anticipate another 300 to 400 more before the carrier stops bringing cargo to Oakland," Mike Zampa, communications director for the port, said, according to the San Francisco Business Times.

In some places, the containers were stacked five high. Unlike when U.S. ports experienced backups due to staff issues, these delays stem from the company's ongoing troubles in South Korea.

"The empties will sit here until the bankruptcy proceedings in Seoul are resolved," Zampa added. "That could be two or three years."

While this is a relief for businesses using Hanjin's ships to import goods, it could cause a headache for others who expect their shipments into Oakland in the future.

"Global supply chains have been pretty well gummed up," Zampa said. "Hanjin will probably disappear."

And, if that's the case, that means that the empty containers will have no company to go to, prolonging the problem in ports, like Oakland.