Ports again delay fee on laggard containers, cite progress

Associated Press

Updated: Nov 23, 2021 / 11:10 AM CST

A cargo ship stacked with shipping containers is docked at the Port of Los Angeles Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. Experts say unless more spending shifts back to services or something else motivates people to stop buying, it could take well into next year or even 2023 before the U.S. and global supply chains return to some semblance of normal. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have again postponed imposing fees on containers left on docks too long, citing progress in moving the cargo from marine terminals.

The decision was made after a meeting Monday between the U.S. port envoy, John D. Porcari, industry stakeholders and officials of the adjacent ports, the Port of Long Beach said in a press release.

The “container dwell fee” will now not be considered before Nov. 29.

“Since the fee was announced on Oct. 25, the two ports have seen a decline of 33% combined in aging cargo on the docks,” the statement said. “The executive directors of both ports are satisfied with the progress thus far and will reassess fee implementation after another week of monitoring data.”

The fee was imposed by the harbor commissions of both ports as a measure to help ease congestion that has left dozens of ships waiting offshore.