In its latest effort to fight congestion, the Port of Long Beach’s commission voted last week to shorten free storage time for containers, effective July 1.
A new tariff amendment would cut the “free time” for inbound cargo to be stored at the docks from five business days to four. For outbound cargo this period will be down to six business days from seven.
In another congestion-related change, the free time period for inbound containers will begin the day after the container is unloaded.
This is a revision from the current rule that begins the free period after a vessel discharges all of its cargo. The amendment closes a loophole that allows inbound containers to sit at the dock for as many as ten days, since it could take as many as five days for a ship to fully unload.
“Less congestion will improve turn times for truck drivers and improve air quality,” said Port executive director Richard D. Steinke.
