The Port of Los Angeles is proposing a plan to charge ocean carriers that allow empty containers to remain on the port’s marine terminals for nine days or longer.
The fee, which will be presented to the Los Angeles Harbor Commission’s board at its Jan. 13 meeting, would take effect at the end of this month.
“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 Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene 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.”
Under the proposed policy, starting Jan. 30, any ocean carrier leaving an empty container at the terminal for nine days would be charged $100. The charge would increase by $100 each subsequent day until the container leaves the terminal. If approved by the commission, the fee would be implemented at the discretion of the Executive Director.
Any fees collected from the program will be reinvested into programs designed to enhance the efficiency of the port, accelerate cargo velocity and address congestion impacts, the port said.
Previously, the Port of Los Angeles announced a similar program for lingering import containers. While the port announced the program on Oct. 25, it has delayed enacting the fees because import containers staying at the port more than nine days have fallen by 53 percent since Oct. 24.