Container Dwell Fee Program to End Jan. 24

Dec. 16, 2022 — The San Pedro Bay ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles will phase out the option to collect a “Container Dwell Fee” on Jan. 24, 2023.

Since the program was announced on Oct. 25, 2021, the two ports have seen a combined decline of 92% in aging cargo on the docks. While the executive directors of both ports have had the authority from their respective harbor commissions to implement the fee, it was never activated because cargo owners were able to clear their long-dwelling cargo off terminals.

Under the temporary policy, ocean carriers could be charged for each import container dwelling nine days or more at the terminal. Fee implementation has been postponed by both ports since the start of the program. The Long Beach and Los Angeles Boards of Harbor Commissioners both extended the fee program through Jan. 24, 2023. Neither port plans to extend the program beyond that date.