L.A. port announces fee on lingering empty containers

The Port of Los Angeles plans to begin charging a fee to ocean carriers that allow empty containers to linger on the port’s marine terminals for nine days or longer.

Under the policy, which starts Jan. 30, ocean carriers will be charged $100 for an empty container dwelling for nine days. The fee will increase in $100 increments per container per day until the container leaves the terminal.

If approved by the Los Angeles Harbor Commission, the fee's implementation will be at the discretion of Executive Director Gene Seroka, port officials said in a press release.

The fee would be similar to one that was implemented on import containers in October, but has not yet taken effect. The port has delayed enacting that fee because import containers dwelling more than nine days have been reduced by 53% since Oct. 24.

"While we have seen significant success reducing import containers on our docks the past two months, too many empty containers are currently sitting on marine terminals," said Seroka. "Just like the import dwell fee, the objective with this empty container program is not to collect fees but to free up valuable space on our docks, clearing the way for more ships and improving fluidity."

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

The harbor commission will consider the program on Jan. 13.