Long Beach

Ports of LA, Long Beach to Fine Firms Over Container Backlog

The new rules will go into effect Nov. 1.

Residents in Wilmington are saying truckers are leaving shipping containers. Angie Crouch reports for the NBC4 News on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021.
Residents in Wilmington are saying truckers are leaving shipping containers. Angie Crouch reports for the NBC4 News on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021.

In an effort to ease congestion at the nation’s busiest port complex, officials said Monday that they will start fining shipping companies whose cargo containers linger for too long at marine terminals.

The twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach said in a statement that arriving containers scheduled to be moved by trucks will be allowed to stay for nine days before fines start accruing. Containers set to move by rail can stay at the ports for three days.

Some neighbors say they're trying to stop the truck traffic. Hetty Chang reports for the NBC4 News on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021.

After that, ocean carriers will be charged $100 per container, increasing in $100 increments per container per day, the statement said.

The new rules will go into effect Nov. 1.

“The terminals are running out of space, and this will make room for the containers sitting on those ships at anchor,” Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero said in the statement.

It's the latest step aimed at relieving the logjam of cargo ships that has interrupted the global supply chain. The backlog prompted the Biden administration to allow the port complex to operate 24 hours a day to try to get goods unloaded and out to consumers.

NBC4’s Conan Nolan discusses the crisis at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. There are many reasons for this problem but one key issue is the trucker shortage. Secretary Buttigieg talks about how they are addressing the problem.

About 40% of all shipping containers entering the U.S. come through the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports.

Copyright The Associated Press
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