Incentives to support importers facing congestion problems at terminals in Los Angeles and Long Beach.
The idea was launched by CMA CGM, in response to the decision of the two Californian ports to introduce, on 6th December at the earliest. the so-called Container Dwell Fee, a fine to be paid by carriers for imported containers that remain too long at port terminals.
The French shipping company has announced it is about to introduce an early container pickup incentive, which will come into force tomorrow and last for 90 days.
Basically, importers will receive $100 for every container they manage to pick up within the first eight days of arrival at one of the 13 terminals in the two San Pedro Bay ports. Instead, the bonus will be $200 for containers picked up at night or over the weekend.
Ed Aldridge, president of CMA CGM and APL North America, said the CMA CGM Group is committed to doing everything it can to help speed up the supply chain in Southern California and will financially support one of the Los Angeles port’s most important terminals, Fenix Marine Services (FMS), to enhance its operational performance, h24 seven days a week. According to Mr. Aldridge, by incentivizing the movement of containers out of the terminals and ensuring that pickups can be made at night and on weekends at FMS, they will reduce truck delivery times and speed up the flow of goods into the U.S.
Translation by Giles Foster