SIMIC

The move is one step toward getting supply chain stakeholders to use hours outside of the regular workweek, reports IHS Media.

Shippers still have the same actual number of days, four, before a container starts accruing demurrage. But the change effectively shortens the time a shipper has to remove their cargo from the port before those fees kick in, while putting more pressure on motor carriers and warehouses to operate for longer hours.

In a tariff published last Friday, Maher Terminals eliminated Saturdays and Sundays from the "free time" period allowed for import containers. Along with no weekend grace period, the new tariff also cut the grace period for non-working holidays outlined in the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) contract.

The changes go into effect September 23. The move also affects refrigerated containers, which will still have two days of free time.

Maher did not respond to a request for a comment on the changes.

The elimination of weekend and holiday grace periods comes as Maher and other New York-New Jersey marine terminals have opened on many Saturdays over the past two years to deal with the backlog of import containers dwelling at the port. But Maher's move is unusual as the existing tariff that covers the port's five other terminals still excludes weekends and ILA holidays from free time calculations.

Other ports are also extending operating hours to allow shippers and truckers more time to pick up import containers. The Port of Houston started continuously opening its two container terminals for Saturday gates in June in a bid to reduce the number of on-dock import numbers.

The Port of Charleston opened Sunday gates and extended regular operating hours during March and April in a bid to reduce its long-dwelling imports. Savannah has recently implemented continuous 17-hour weekday shifts for truck gates to reduce its container backlog.

The free-time change isn't Maher's only move to reduce container congestion. Earlier this year, it required truckers to match back an ocean carrier's empty container return with import retrieval in a bid to keep on-dock container inventories more balanced.

In a statement, the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) said Maher's added labour expenses for opening on weekends justifies the need to boost Saturday gate use. However, it said the free time policy change is unfair because Maher doesn't offer the same hours on Saturday as it does on weekdays, with the Saturday gates closing at 3 pm rather than the 7 pm closing time on weekdays.