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Association of American Railroads Oct. 1 issued an embargo on all marine container traffic to California, Oregon and Washington port terminals because of a recent dispute between International Longshore and Warehouse Union members and Pacific Maritime Association. Longshoremen were locked out of West Coast ports Sept. 29.


The embargo, which affects Union Pacific Railroad, Burlington Northern Santa Fe and 27-mile Tacoma Municipal Belt Line Railway, will minimize service disruptions, said AAR President and Chief Executive Officer Ed Hamberger in a prepared statement.


"Putting more trains in the queue would only cause congestion in the West and a shortage of equipment in the East," he said.


BNSF stopped accepting loaded and empty international export containers destined for the West Coast Sept. 29 at 12 noon (CST). The Class I plans to receive domestic container and trailer shipments, which would flow through BNSF's West Coast hub centers.


The railroad expects to rescind the restriction on international containers once West Coast ports resume normal operations.


UP also recently halted international container moves destined for California, Oregon and Washington ports.