Ports BRIEFS: Empty Container Fees Planned, Dwell Fee’s Hold

Ports Keep ‘Container Dwell Fee’ on Hold

SAN PEDRO — The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach announced Jan. 3, they will delay consideration of the “Container Dwell Fee” for another week, this time until Jan. 10.

Since the program was announced Oct. 25, the two ports have seen a combined decline of 35% in aging cargo on the docks. As expected, year-end holidays have slowed the progress compared to previous weeks. 

The executive directors of both ports will reassess fee implementation after monitoring data over the next week. Fee implementation has been postponed by both ports since the start of the program. 

POLA Plans Fees For Empty Containers

SAN PEDRO — The Port of Los Angeles Dec. 30, will begin charging a fee to ocean carriers that allow empty containers to linger on the port’s marine terminals for nine days or longer. The fee, subject to approval by the Los Angeles Harbor Commission, would take effect on Jan. 30, 2022.

Under the policy, starting Jan. 30 ocean carriers will be charged $100 for an empty container dwelling for nine days, increasing in $100 increments per container per day until the container leaves the terminal. If approved by the Harbor Commission, implementation of the fee will be at the discretion of the executive director.

The Los Angeles Harbor Commission will consider the program at its Jan. 13 board meeting.

The Port of Los Angeles announced a similar program on Oct. 25 for lingering import containers. The port has delayed enacting the fee on the import containers because import containers dwelling more than 9 days have been reduced by 53% since Oct. 24.

Any fees collected from dwelling cargo will be reinvested for programs designed to enhance efficiency, accelerate cargo velocity and address congestion impacts.