The Los Angeles and Long Beach ports again postponed a new surcharge meant to incentivize the movement of dwelling containers (see 2110280031), the two ports announced Jan. 10. The ports originally planned to begin imposing the fee Nov. 15, but have postponed it each week since. The latest extension delays the effective date until Jan. 17.

The Port of Los Angeles recently announced a plan to impose a new charge on ocean carriers that allow empty containers to linger on marine terminals. Under the plan, which must be approved by the Los Angeles Harbor Commission next week, the port would charge carriers $100 for an empty container dwelling for nine days, increasing in $100 “increments per container per day until the container leaves the terminal.” If approved by the commission, the fee would take effect Jan. 30.

The Los Angeles and Long Beach ports again postponed a new surcharge meant to incentivize the movement of dwelling containers (see 2110280031), the two ports announced Jan. 3. The ports originally planned to begin imposing the fee Nov. 15, but have postponed it each week since. The latest extension delays the effective date until Jan. 10, when the situation will be reassessed.

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach again postponed a new surcharge meant to incentivize the movement of dwelling containers, the two ports announced Dec. 27. The ports originally planned to begin imposing the fee Nov. 15, but have postponed it several times (see 2111030027 and 2110280031). The latest extension delays the effective date until Jan 3.

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach again postponed a new surcharge meant to incentivize the movement of dwelling containers, the two ports announced Dec. 20. The ports originally planned to begin imposing the fee Nov. 15, but have postponed it several times (see 2111030027 and 2110280031). The latest extension delays the effective date to Dec. 27.

The Port of Long Beach will soon launch a data tool to help shippers better track their cargo and reduce container delays, the port said Dec. 16. The tool, which will launch in partnership with technology firm UNCOMN, will provide shippers with a free “cargo visibility service software” that will provide shipping data across all transportation modes, the port said. The soft launch of the tool, called the “Supply Chain Information Highway,” is expected in February.

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach again postponed a new surcharge meant to incentivize the movement of dwelling containers, the two ports announced Dec. 13. The ports originally planned to begin imposing the fee Nov. 15 (see 2111030027) but have postponed it several times (see 2111290039 and 2112060041). Both ports said they've seen a combined decline of 47% in aging cargo on their docks since the fee was announced in October (see 2110280031). The latest extension delays the effective date to Dec. 20.

Barring a steep drop in demand, port congestion and supply chain problems are unlikely to improve next year, and shippers should continue to expect container issues and equipment shortages, Flexport CEO Ryan Peterson said. But companies can take steps to mitigate issues caused by delays and high container fees, including routing shipments away from highly congested ports and minimizing empty space in containers.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has rejected a proposal from the Pacific Maritime Association to extend its current labor contract, according to a Nov. 23 report from Bloomberg. That sets up potentially contentious negotiations between the labor union, which represents West Coast dockworkers, and terminal operators and carriers on the West Coast, amid existing supply chain challenges. The current contract, which had already been extended one year, expires mid-2022.

The Federal Maritime Commission will convene six supply chain innovation teams to find improvements in the container return and delivery process at marine terminals, the FMC said Nov. 17. The announcement, made by Commissioner Rebecca Dye this week, is aimed at “improving conditions” at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in California and at the Port of New York and New Jersey. The teams will be composed of ocean carrier executives and marine terminal operators.