The US ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have expanded the hours during which trucks can pick up containers in an effort to speed up cargo throughput and ease boxship congestion.

The Port of Long Beach will maximise night time operations in an initial effort to establish non-stop pick-up of containers, while the Port of Los Angeles will expand weekend operating gate hours.

Neither port could give specific expansion hours for the pilot programme dubbed "Accelerate Cargo LA", but they've asked terminal operators to use all available gate hours.

“We appreciate the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration in marshalling a response to the unprecedented global supply chain disruption so acutely felt here at the San Pedro Bay Port Complex,” Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka said.

“These steps, in addition to what has previously been recommended, demonstrate that the Port of Los Angeles will continue to innovate in order to manage this historic cargo surge.”

A record 65 containerships where at anchor in San Pedro Bay as of Friday.

Seroka in July sent recommendations to the US Department of Transportation on how to get boxes picked up faster and reduce waiting times for containerships.

“I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders to strengthen the resiliency of our transportation supply chain," said John Porcari, port envoy to the Biden-Harris Administration’s Task Force on Supply Chain Disruptions.