A nationwide increase in demand for imports may be the reason why a rotation of massive container ships has taken up temporary residence in Holmes Harbor.

Greenbank and Freeland denizens have noticed an influx of cargo ships during recent months.

Julian Faulkner, a Whidbey resident of 30 years who lives in Greenbank, has been watching the vessels come and go.

“I’m 76 years old and I’ve never seen anything like this with all the ships coming and docking here,” he said.

This week alone, five different ships have been anchored in the harbor, all of which have been container ships.

The 984-foot Maersk Lins was the first to leave Holmes Harbor for the Port of Seattle on Wednesday.

The 1,147-foot Athos, which is bound for the Port of Vancouver, was joined by three other ships this week.

The 1,148-foot CMA CGM Pelleas, the 853-foot Navios Azure and the 997-foot SM Busan are all bound for Seattle and arrived over a period of time from Tuesday to Thursday.

Melanie Stambaugh, senior communications manager for the Northwest Seaport Alliance, said there is currently not enough space at the terminals to take in any more vessels. The Northwest Seaport Alliance represents the Port of Seattle and the Port of Tacoma.

“Import demand continues to be very strong and that’s causing vessel congestion, particularly more in Vancouver,” Stambaugh said.

The issue is even worse in California, she explained, where more than 40 vessels are anchored in different locations while awaiting space at their ports to open up.

The import demand going on right now, she said, is a first in the industry.

Last month, imports were up 25 percent at the Seattle and Tacoma ports.

This month, the imports have been up 21 percent.

“Part of that is an overflow of the pandemic,” Stambaugh said. “People stayed home, they didn’t spend money on services so instead they spent money on goods which are coming from overseas in most cases.”

Although people might start spending more on services with the rapid reopening of the country, Stambaugh said the industry’s general forecast is expecting import demand to remain through the end of the year.

Starting in January 2022, terminal 5 at the Port of Seattle will allow for more capacity and will be able to hold larger vessels. In turn, this may reduce the number of boats moored in Holmes Harbor.

The Navios Azure and the SM Busan are both scheduled to go into berth at the Port of Seattle May 25, although Stambaugh said that could change. A few vessels have travelled ahead of schedule recently and have had to anchor until their scheduled berth time.

Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier, a spokesperson for the United States Coast Guard, said vessels are scheduled to leave Holmes Harbor May 23, 26 and 29.

The Coast Guard determines the location for vessels to anchor. The anchorage at Holmes Harbor, according to the Vessel Traffic Service, is one of the least preferred sites in the Puget Sound region.

Strohmaier said the Coast Guard tries to prevent ships from anchoring there due to its proximity to the public and its distance from the main waterway.

“It’s kind of off the beaten path, so to speak,” he said.

Strohmaier said the Coast Guard works with local jurisdictions and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to make sure boats are “environmentally sound units.”

Any pollution or spillage coming from the boats, he said, should be reported to the Coast Guard’s National Response Center at 800-424-8802.