Long Beach Container Terminal (Middle Harbor)
LBCT (OOCL / COSCO group) · Los Angeles / Long Beach · USLAX
The San Pedro Bay complex runs twelve container terminals under two port authorities. Appointment scarcity, not vessel delay, is the leading cause of demurrage here, and a day with no available dual-transaction slot is not merchant-caused under the FMC rule.
Which clock is whose
COSCO and OOCL file separately despite the shared group, so two boxes on the same vessel can carry different free time.
Gate & appointments
Fully automated gate and yard; appointments required for most transactions.
Chassis
Pool of pools; automated stacking means chassis flips are handled inside the yard.
What is usually reversible
Confirm which group brand issued the bill of lading before accepting a free-time figure. US import: under the FMC rule (46 CFR 541) a demurrage or detention invoice must carry specified information and the charge must serve a genuine incentive purpose. A defective invoice eliminates the obligation to pay.
Stuck at Long Beach Container Terminal (Middle Harbor)?
Don’t accept unfair demurrage.
Los Angeles / Long Beach has seen heavy congestion this period. If a carrier is billing you storage for days when you couldn’t secure an appointment or a chassis, those charges may be reversible under OSRA 22 billing rules.
Pilot intake currently full — the free audit stays free. Pilot clients keep 100% of their first recovery in exchange for a review. No sign-in, no card, $0 upfront.
Services normally calling
- OOCL
- COSCO Shipping
- Ocean Alliance services
Gate hours, appointment rules and the storage tariff are published by the operator: Long Beach Container Terminal. Also searched as: LBCT, Middle Harbor terminal, Pier E Long Beach.
Check a charge from this terminal
Work out the last free day, then see whether the days billed survive the tariff.