In a statement, President Biden leaned in favor of the ILA dockworkers' demands, putting the burden on USMX’s foreign-owned ocean carriers.

There had been a faint glimmer of hope Monday evening when the employers’ organization, the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) released an update saying: “In the last 24 hours, the USMX and ILA have traded counter offers related to wages.

A line of picketers chanted into bullhorns and held signs near the Wilmington port along Shipyard Boulevard Tuesday. READ MORE: NC Port Authority revamping rail yard and