The port’s container tonnage, 1.95 million long tons in 1965, soared to 2.6 million tons in 1966, even though hardly any containers were carried during the first 10 weeks of the year. Faced with this heavy flow of cargo, more U.S. companies, two groups of British carriers, and a consortium of Continental ship lines all raced to enter the container trade. “In 1966, commitments by ship operators and ports to containers passed the point of no return,” a consultant judged.
