Los Angeles, Long Beach Ports Delay Container Dwell Fee 

San Pedro Bay port
San Pedro Bay port
Stacked containers at a San Pedro Bay port complex container terminal. Photo: Chris Valle Photography.

As the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles continue to see progress on aging cargo containers clearing their docks, both ports announced Friday that they will postpone implementing the Container Dwell Fee until April 29. 

First announced Oct. 25, the fee would charge ocean carriers $100 for every import lingering at their marine terminals by nine or more days, rising in $100 daily increments on every import until it leaves the ports. 

The fee was created with the Biden-Harris Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force and federal transportation agency and supply chain stakeholders to help reduce the number of containers stacking up at the nation’s two busiest seaports. 

So far, the number of older cargo has dropped by 49% at both ports since announcing the fee Oct. 25, according to the ports. The ports’ leaders plan to reevaluate the fee’s start date after a week to see if the progress on clearing out aging imports continues. 

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners agreed to extend the fee, which is set to expire April 29. This week, the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners is expected to vote to extend the fee as well to July 28.

By Karen Robes Meeks