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Photos: Gridlock at L.A. ports as dozens of ships idle off the coast

Container ships at sea
Container ships wait to unload cargo outside the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach on Wednesday.
(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
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President Biden announced Wednesday that the Port of Los Angeles would operate around the clock to alleviate a logistical bottleneck that has left dozens of container ships idling off the California coast and Americans waiting longer to get products manufactured overseas.

Longshoremen will work through the night and major retailers and shipping companies have pledged to clear cargo off the docks faster, changes that are intended to speed the flow of toys, electronics and other gifts to American doorsteps during the holiday season.

“Today’s announcement has the potential to be a game changer,” Biden said as he acknowledged that people are worrying about whether everything from “toasters to sneakers to bicycles to bedroom furniture” were going to be available.

A wide-angle view of docked container ships
Container ships at the ports of Los Angeles on Wednesday.
(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
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A view of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach
Container ships are unloaded at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach while other vessels wait offshore.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A container ship is seen in the foreground on the water with others in the distance
Container ships wait to unload.
(Allen J. Schaben /Los Angeles Times)
A sailboat on the water in front of a container vessel
A sailboat passes one of the container ships sitting off the coast of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Container ships at a port
Containers are unloaded from a docked ship.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Two container ships are seen offshore
Container ships wait offshore.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
 A truck driver checks his cargo as the Port of Los Angeles is set to begin operating around the clock.
A truck driver checks his cargo as the Port of Los Angeles is set to begin operating around the clock.
(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
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Cargo trucks wait in long lines to enter the port.
(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
Cargo ships wait to enter the port on Wednesday in San Pedro,
Cargo ships wait to enter the port on Wednesday in San Pedro,
(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
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