The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have imposed a "container excess dwell fee" in an effort to clear boxes from their terminals, but at least two liner operators do not plan on bearing that cost.
Swiss liner giant Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) said on Thursday that the fee may be handed down to shippers that hire the liner operators to move their goods.
"MSC expects that all costs will be passed through to shippers, although it remains unclear whether the marine terminal operator or the carrier will be rebilling this," the Geneva-based company said in a statement.
On Sunday, Israeli liner operator Zim told its customers that the dwell fee would be applied to the goods they ship.
"As before, Zim will continue to identify solutions that might help mitigate the impact of the ports’ actions and assist you in removing your cargoes from the terminal before they are subject to the above fees," the New York-listed company said.
"We appreciate your continued support and will keep you informed of developments as they occur."
Pick up those boxes
The Port of Los Angeles implemented the fee on 29 October in an effort to get boxes picked up faster at the terminals and ease congestion at the port.
The 90-day programme, which has been adopted by the nearby Port of Long Beach, began on Monday and will start assessing penalties on 15 November.
Liner operators are being fined for containers not being picked up after nine days by truck and six days by rail.
The ports are charging them $100 per container, increasing in $100 increments per container per day until the container leaves the terminal.
Both MSC and Zim estimate that, at that rate, the fee would increase to $500 per day by the 13th day for each container removed by truck and by the 10th day for each one picked up by rail.
The Port of Los Angeles said it developed the policy with the Biden-Harris Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, US Department of Transportation and Port of Long Beach.
