Recently, the Port of Houston, a major container port in the East United States, announced that it will implement import container detention fees from cargo owners from December 1, 2022, in order to increase the speed of cargo circulation and also authorize optional excess import detention fees. Covering two container terminals, Barbours Cut Terminal and Bayport Container Terminal.
The Port of Houston is located on the northwest coast of Galveston on the Gulf of Mexico. It is the largest city in Texas, the United States, and the second largest energy and commercial port in the United States and the sixth largest in the world. On average, more than 7,000 merchant ships call at the Port of Houston every year.
The Port of Houston said container volumes at the port have reached record levels in recent months. This new fee is intended to improve the flow of goods and alleviate the problem of long-term stranded import containers.
Data show that in August, the container throughput of the Port of Houston reached a record 382,842TEU, an increase of 20% over the same month last year, making it the busiest month in the port’s history. In September, container throughput at the Port of Houston increased 26% compared with the same period last year, reaching 353,525 TEUs.
This is the second-highest month ever for container throughput at the Port of Houston, behind only August 2022. Overall, container throughput at the Port of Houston Container Terminal increased 18% year-on-year to nearly 3 million TEU.
According to the port, as the volume of containers increases in preparation for the peak season, maintaining efficient loading and unloading at Bayport, Barbours Cut and Dwell terminals has become a new challenge. On average, import vessel dwell times have doubled to six days, compared with just two or three days in the past low season.
It is reported that this fee will be charged directly to the cargo owner (BCO) on the eighth day after the free period.
The specific charging standards are:
Import containers detained at the port for more than 8 days (including 8 days) will be charged a daily detention fee of US$45/container, which will be charged directly to the Beneficial Cargo Owners (BCOs). The detention fee applies to the two container terminals of the Port of Houston, Barbours Cut and Bayport. Shippers who want to pick up the detained containers must pay this new fee.
Port of Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther said the port has evaluated and concluded several options to improve cargo transportation at the Port of Houston. The detention fee collected this time is in the interest of all supply chain stakeholders and can reduce container detention time and ensure efficient port operations.
</p
