Ports Briefs: Container Dwell Fee Still Holding/ Grant Powers POLB Zero Emissions Push

Container Dwell Fee Remains on Hold to May 13

SAN PEDRO — The San Pedro Bay ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will again delay consideration of the “Container Dwell Fee” for another week, until May 13.

Since the program was announced on Oct. 25, the two ports have seen a combined decline of 47% in aging cargo on the docks.

The executive directors of both ports will reassess fee implementation after monitoring data over the next week. The Long Beach and Los Angeles Boards of Harbor Commissioners have both extended the fee program through July 28.

Under the temporary policy, ocean carriers can be charged for each import container dwelling nine days or more at the terminal. No date has been set to start the count with respect to container dwell time.

Grant to Power Port of Long Beach’s Zero Emissions Push

A multimillion-dollar California Energy Commission Grant will help the Port of Long Beach transition to zero-emissions operations by developing infrastructure plans to support electric vehicles at the Port of Long Beach.

The $2.5 million award aids the second phase of the port community electric vehicle blueprint, which the port created to identify an approach to electric vehicle planning and implementation, and identify opportunities to ensure the local workforce has the skills and abilities required to support and maintain an electric vehicle-ready community.

Projects covered by the grant include developing a master plan for SSA Marine’s Pier J facility to convert to zero-emissions operations. A similar master plan will be developed to evaluate the infrastructure required to support a fully zero-emissions port-owned fleet of vehicles and vessels. Other projects include installing chargers at the port’s maintenance facility as well as the infrastructure needed to power future chargers at the port’s joint command and control center. Lastly, funds will be used to develop a report in partnership with Long Beach City College to identify workforce skills needed to maintain zero-emissions trucks and infrastructure.