Long Beach mulls incentive schemes to attract big ships, boost intermodal

LONG Beach Board of Harbour Commissioners are considering two incentive programmes to promote the west coast port as a big ship destination and encourage intermodal shipping.

It has proposed a capping of dockage fees on vessels that are longer than 345 metres at US$8,641 a day compared to current price of $11,242 a day for large container vessels, reports the Long Beach Press Telegram.

The port authority is also considering a $10 per TEU discount for containers coming by rail to undermine trucking to ease congestion and improve air quality.

Its strategy for capping and discounting rail cargo fees is to protect market share and protect jobs in the region, said port spokesman Art Wong. "We want to give them one more reason to move their cargo through Southern California."

The programme will go live on August 1 following approval at commission meeting with year-on-year stats to be then compared in the same time frame 2011-2012.