Emergency Container Dwell and Storage Fees by US Port and Terminal Operator

In response to the massive congestion at US West Coast port terminals, ocean carriers and port authorities and terminal operators deployed multiple measures to reduce gridlock: omitting port calls, increasing gate and terminals hours, and most recently, introducing excess container dwell fees or storage charges.

With all these announcements, we wanted to provide our members an overview of what has been implemented, where, what has been postponed, and how to prepare for these additional charges.  While these fees have been introduced so far only at US West Coast ports and terminals, there is industry speculation that additional US ports, East coast in particular, could follow.    

The emergency dwell fee introduced by the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and Port of Long Beach (POLB), which operate as public port authorities (landlords who rent space to terminal operators), is billed to ocean carriers, who in turn would pass it over to cargo owners.  This charge has been announced but has not been enforced; next review is January 10th, 2022.  

Private terminal operators at US West Coast container ports have also introduced excess container dwell, temporary storage or rehandling charges.  These are local terminal charges and are billed to the importer listed on the shipping documents.

If excess container dwell fees are applicable on any import shipment, whether imposed by port authorities or by private terminal operators, the charges are the responsibility of the cargo owner.  

Charges are incremental based on the length of the stay after listed free time has expired, starting between $48-100 per day or as posted.  

See the link to container dwell fees by port / terminal at the bottom of the message.

PortIssued ByChargeEffective
Los Angeles, Long BeachPOLA, POLBEmergency Dwell FeeNovember 1, 2021 *postponed to Jan 10, 2022
Long BeachITS TerminalTemporary Storage ChargeJanuary 10, 2022
Long BeachLBCTTemporary Storage ChargeJanuary 15, 2022
Long BeachSSA (PCT and Pier A)Temporary Storage ChargeDecember 15, 2021
Long BeachTTIExtended on-terminal storage charge / congestion feeJanuary 10, 2022
OaklandSSA (OICT)Extended Dwell Time FeeDecember 20, 2021
SeattleSSA (Terminal 5, 18, 30)Temporary Storage ChargeDecember 1, 2021
TacomaHusky TerminalLong Stay Rehandling ChargeNovember 15, 2021
TacomaWashington United TerminalsLong Stay Rehandling ChargeNovember 15, 2021
Updated January 5, 2022

See full list of the terminal charges and tariff schedules here.