By Our Correspondent
Port of Houston has decided to impose a Sustained Import Dwell Fee which is expected to come into effect from February 1st, according to FleetMon.

It stated: “The new fee is being imposed to prevent the stagnation of cargo at the Bayport and Barbours Cut Container Terminals.
“The sustained Import Dwell Fee is intended to discourage long-term storage of containers at the terminal and promote the fluidity of cargo. A fee of $45 will be charged per unit per day from the eighth day after the expiration of free time.
“These fines have been defined under the sub-rules of the port tariffs. The port stated in an announcement that this imposed fee will be in addition to the demurrage charges for the loaded import containers. The containers will also be held at the port till all the charges and the pending terminal fees are cleared. The port also noted that the payment of these charges is the responsibility of the cargo owner.
“The fee structure was approved in October 2022. Another fee, an Excessive Import Dwell Fee, was also approved along with this Sustained Import Dwell Fee. This Excessive Dwell fee can be implemented at the leisure of Port Houston’s executive director. If implemented, the fee will take effect after 30 days of issuing public notice and will remain active for 60 days.”