LONG BEACH, Calif. — With a record number of cargo vessels stacked up off the SoCal coast, new measures and extended operating hours have been added recently to cope with the massive backlog at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. While the historic backlog has created supply chain disruptions, it is also impacting the lives of the people who bring us our stuff. 

Edward Hervias has been a sailor for many years, so he’s used to being at sea for months at a time, and yet nowadays he’s encountering something new. At several ports around the world, there’s a wait period to dock. Coming to the San Pedro Bay Port Complex is where he waited the longest for berth: seven days.

New COVID rules prohibit people getting off the ship while it’s docked. Hervias shared photos and videos he took himself with Spectrum News to give us a glimpse of his life at sea.

When he’s not working, there is WiFi on board, plus a gym with free weights and machines.

While it may not look like much, Hervias is thankful to be employed. Back in March 2020, work was hard to find.

All the waiting to dock at ports in China, Japan and the United States adds weeks onto his voyage. Although he is getting paid, the uncertainty this brings is frustrating.

“We don’t like it because it’s longer. People get antsy to just get out of here after their 120 days. I think 120 days is enough. It’s long enough,” said Hervias. 

Once his current job ends in December, Hervias will likely wait and rest in or near Long Beach before setting sail again. Visiting his family in the Philippines would be nice, but it could jeopardize his chances of working in the future given the strict quarantine rules associated with international travel.

“This thing is going to be going on for probably years, maybe couple years or more,” said Hervias.

Stories like Hervias' are reminders that the supply chain is made up of humans as much as hardware.