Before the COVID-19 epidemic, it was rare to see more than one ship waiting in line at the ports of Los Angeles and long Beach, the largest port complex in the United States. Today, however, more than 60 ships are moored at the port, loaded with billions of dollars worth of toys, furniture and home electronics, making the traffic as bad as the notoriously congested Interstate 405 in Los Angeles.

Now, the deadlock in maritime transport has become so serious that from Walmart IncBig retailers such as Costco Wholesale Corp have chartered their own boats to avoid congestion at the port of Los Angeles ahead of the holiday shopping season.

The huge backlog of global shipping in 2021 is the result of a perfect storm, including the closure of facilities by the COVID-19 epidemic, international trade disputes and extreme delays caused by extreme weather. Everything from food to diapers is shelved on the high seas, where 90% of the world's trade takes place.

The port of Los Angeles accounts for half of America's total imports, up 30% from last year's record level. Because there is a long line of ships with too much cargo, trucks and trains can't get the goods out fast enough. Now, big retailers are starting to do it themselves:

Walmart Inc has chartered a grain freighter full of toys and consumer goods and transported it from the port of Los Angeles to a nearby wharf. The Home Depot IncSend ships loaded with Halloween and Christmas decorations to San Diego. Target Corp(Target), Costco Wholesale Corp (Costco), Ikea and Dollar Tree have also joined the trend of chartering ships.

This is not cheap, and it is reported that the cost of chartering a freighter carrying 3000 20-foot containers is about $40, 000 a day.

About 20-25 per cent of goods stranded on board will not be on the shelves in time for Black Friday on November 26, when the annual holiday shopping spree begins in the US, according to Strategic Resource Group, a retail consultancy.