Nowadays, the container accumulation caused by port congestion is very serious. For LA / LB port, the accumulation of empty containers is the biggest challenge they face.

As early as the end of December 2021, American retailers began to worry that the port authority would charge for empty containers. However, this fear is about to become a reality.

The port of Los Angeles took the lead in announcing on its official website that from January 30, 2022, shipping companies that delayed leaving empty containers will be charged.

(Related reading: the port of Los Angeles officially announced that it would charge an empty container detention fee)

It is understood that LA / LB port is discussing a new plan with shipping companies to encourage carriers to carry more empty containers. This can minimize the impact of empty containers on the wharf. However, the premise is that without affecting the export container.

To this end, port operators and shipping companies are working with port envoy John Porcari to develop this plan. If the plan is passed successfully, it will replace the proposal made last October to charge for stranded full containers.

Gene seroka, CEO of Los Angeles port, said recently that the staff of the port will negotiate with the stakeholders involved in container transportation to obtain a more reasonable plan.

Noel hacegaba, CEO of Long Beach port, said that at present, nearly 120,000 empty containers are stranded in the port. This is an amazing number.

Since the port charged a high detention fee for containers last October, the imported containers in the port have been cleaned up well. But now the accumulation of empty containers is the main problem faced by the port.

The CEO said that at present, the stranded imported containers in the port have decreased by 60%, accounting for only 10% of the port container inventory. Empty containers now account for half of all containers in the port. What we need to do now is to reduce the number of such containers.

Therefore, the plan will encourage shipping companies to ship more export containers. However, in the past year, exporters have been worried that shipping companies may refuse to carry low paid goods and only transport empty containers.

Although many shipping companies arranged many cleaning ships in LA / LB port last year, a large number of empty containers are still occupying the space of the port.