Container dwell fees on hold at San Pedro Bay ports

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  • Container dwell fees on hold at San Pedro Bay ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles until May 20
  • The ports have seen 50% decline in aging cargo on the docks since program was announced on October 25, 2021
  • Fee implementation has been postponed several times since then
  • The Long Beach and Los Angeles Boards of Harbor Commissioners have both extended the fee program for ocean carriers until July 28

Container dwell fees are on hold at San Pedro Bay ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles until May 20.

Since the program was announced on October 25, the two ports have seen a combined decline of 50% in aging cargo on the docks. Fee implementation has been postponed several times by both ports since the start of the program, according to a statement that both appeared on the websites of the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach.

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. Currently, no date has been set to start the count with respect to container dwell time.

The ports plan to charge ocean carriers US$100 per container, increasing in US$100 increments per container per day until the container leaves the terminal.

Under the temporary policy approved Oct. 29 by the Harbor Commissions of both ports, ocean carriers can be charged for each import container that falls into one of two categories: In the case of containers scheduled to move by truck, ocean carriers could be charged for every container dwelling nine days or more. For containers moving by rail, ocean carriers could be charged if a container has dwelled for six days or more. Currently, no date has been set to start the count with respect to container dwell time.

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

The policy was developed in coordination with the Biden-Harris Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, U.S. Department of Transportation and multiple supply chain stakeholders.

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