Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka assured footwear importers meeting in Long Beach Tuesday that the Southern California ports have proposals that could provide some immediate relief to the worsening congestion problem in the harbor.

Implementing these measures is difficult, though, because each industry sector continues to take a narrow view of the problems rather than working in unison to reach solutions that have a port-wide impact. Seroka said shipping lines, terminal operators, labor, truckers, railroads, equipment providers and the port authorities must meet as a single industry “to talk about these unique opportunities.”

Marine terminal congestion at the busiest U.S. port complex has reached crisis proportions. The Marine Exchange of Los Angeles-Long Beach said at least four vessels were anchored outside the ports today awaiting berths — something not seen since the employer lockout of longshoremen during the 2002 contract negotiations.

The Harbor Trucking Association of Southern California on Monday announced it is considering legal action to counter recent decisions by terminal operators to delay acceptance of equipment returns, including chassis and empty containers, due to congestion at the facilities. Those actions have contributed to skyrocketing late charges, known as demurrage, for truckers and beneficial cargo owners.

Seroka confirmed that the congestion problems in Southern California are severe, and yet the prospect of continued high volumes means there will be no let up of the pressure. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach this week reported respective increases of 9 percent and 7.3 percent in total container volumes in September compared to September of 2013. Seroka said carriers and terminals indicate that volumes will remain strong into mid-November, tail off for a month or so, and then pick up in late December and in early 2015 for the pre-Chinese New Year rush.

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