From now through the end of October, containers imported
into the Port of Long Beach will have an extra three days that they can remain
on the docks before fees kick in, the port revealed Oct. 17.
The move is being made to give some relief to cargo owners
as the supply chain works to eliminate congestion that has plagued the port for
months. From Oct. 18 through Oct. 31, the “free” time that containers can sit
before demurrage is charged has been extended from four to seven business days.
“The terminal congestion is very unfortunate, and a truly
exceptional occurrence, so I am using my authority to waive demurrage fees
through the end of the month,” Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Jon Slangerup
said.
A number of factors have combined to back up cargo at the
local port complex in recent weeks: an upswing in cargo shipments arriving for
the holiday shopping season, the arrival of larger ships that can carry 50
percent more cargo and a shortage of truck chassis to haul containers.
“As additional cargo flows through the port, helping to
sustain jobs both locally and throughout the country, the Port of Long Beach is
doing what it can to help terminal operators ease congestion and move cargo through
the port efficiently,” the port said in a statement announcing the move.
The adjoining Port of Los Angeles, however, says it has no
plans to introduce such a waiver.
“There is a concern that this will not help the overall
situation,” POLA spokesman Phillip Sanfield told Pacific Maritime Magazine, saying that instead, the port is looking
at other anti-congestion measures, including opening up more areas to temporary
container and chassis storage.
