With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
With The Ports Running Out Of Room, Containers Left Behind Will Soon Cost $100 A Day
Cargo containers sit stacked on ships at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro earlier this month.
(
Mario Tama
/
Getty Images
)
The ports of L.A. and Long Beach, the two largest container ports in the nation, will start fining shipping companies if they don't move their containers out fast enough. It’s the latest in a series of temporary fixes to help ease an unprecedented cargo backlog that's creating a ripple effect across the country.
Port officials say they're running out of room for all the boxes that are now sitting at their terminals, forcing ships to wait even longer at anchor for an empty berth. Under a new policy announced this week, once a carrier drops off a container, the clock will start ticking.
If cargo is supposed to go on a truck, companies will have nine days to send it out before they're slapped with a $100 fine for each container. It’s a much shorter turnaround for items bound for a train — they need to be out of the terminal within three days before those fees kick in.
After Nov. 1, carriers could end up paying a $100 per day per container. Fines will grow the longer those boxes sit around. Some shipping companies have said they can’t move cargo any faster, due to labor shortages and other supply-chain issues on land.
Support for LAist comes from
Fines will be reinvested by the two ports into programs that will “enhance efficiency, accelerate cargo velocity, and address congestion impacts throughout the San Pedro Bay,” according to an announcement by the Port of Los Angeles.
The new policy was developed in coordination with the Biden-Harris Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, the U.S. Department of Transportation and multiple supply chain stakeholders.
“I support the actions taken by the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach,” said John D. Pocari, Port Envoy to the White House task force.
“While we’ve seen new records set in terms of throughput this year at West Coast ports, we need more players throughout the supply chain to keep stepping up," he said.
When President Joe Biden announced that the two ports were moving to a 24/7 operation, large companies such as Walmart, Target, FedEx and UPS committed to increasing their hours of operation to help alleviate the bottleneck.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails. -
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight.
Best of LAist