An aerial photo taken on September 4, 2021 shows an ocean shipping ship loading containers at a container terminal in Lianyungang city, Jiangsu Province, China. A worldwide shortage of shipping containers is just one reason analysts expect big delays for Christmas shopping deliveries in 2021. (Photo: Wang Chun / Costfoto/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
It’s almost unimaginable. But it’s real and it’s going to impact every single consumer in America (if it isn’t already). Right now, there are 100 cargo ships that are waiting to anchor and unload at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California.
Before COVID-19, the average was 17 container ships waiting to unload.
And more are expected. ABC News reporter Alex Stone says 45 more ships are expected to arrive at those ports within the next three days.