The First Available Date is the first available date for the pickup of import cargo.
The FA Date is usually entered in the terminal system at the close of business. So, you may see that your container has discharged today and is on terminal with customs and shipping line releases but not ready for pickup. The FA Date is always the next business day after vessel discharge. The business day begins at 8 AM.
Free Time
The “Free Time” period for import container storage begins on the FA Date. Weekends are not counted against free time during the free time period. For example, when FA Date begins on Friday, the weekend (Saturday, Sunday and holidays) are not counted as free time. When free time has expired, weekends are counted as storage days. For example, free time expires on Friday. The weekend days are counted as storage days and demurrage charges are applied to the container.
The following examples are other reasons for import containers not available:
- Container not located in parking slot on terminal.
- Container in a government inspection area.
- Container block stacked due to high import volume.
- FA Date not entered in terminal inventory system.
For Freight/Line holdsk, please contact the Steamship line to have hold released.
Double stacked/block stacked could be a reason
Container is not available due to congestion at the terminal this is based on the YARD LOCATION
1N, 2N and many others found on the home page terminal status. Container will be made available ASAP.
The LANDING$ hold prevents import container delivery until the marine terminal landing surcharge is paid. Effective October 1, 2018 for import containers arriving on vessels, the fee is payable online using PayCargo.
The NO GENSET hold is applied by the shipping line owner of the container. Only the shipping may authorize the Terminal to deliver a live reefer container with NO GENSET. Putting the NO GENSET hold on the container notifies the Terminal staff that this container may be delivered without a genset.
Yard Location NOLOC indicates that the container has discharged from the vessel and is on the terminal. The container has no parking slot. Import Container pickup is prevented until container position on terminal is verified with a valid parking slot. Container location is updated the next business day after vessel discharge which is also the first available date for pickup.
OOG means OUT OF GAUGE of standard container dimensions requiring special stowage on terminal and special handling gear for delivery of flatrack or open top shipping container to over the road truck. An out of gauge container on terminal uses at least the equivalent space of six standard containers. The OOG$ is a payment hold for the extra handling required for out of gauge equipment. This is part of the published Terminal Tariff rates and applies to all shippers.
Other
We do not provide escorts for anyone. All personnel must have a valid TWIC id and a port id to enter our facility. Out of town truckers will be allowed to enter with TWIC and valid driver’s license.
To receive an export hazardous container the SSL must pre-advise the container number against the booking into our system. Please check container information (booking inquiry) enter your booking number and look for pre-advised block if your container number is there you are ready to bring your container into the port for gate in.
Random exam done upon discharging vessel, were CBP inspects containers for seal integrity, compares manifest against actual cargo and is also looking for contraband. Container is sealed up with a CBP seal and new seal list is forward to the SSL. Current charges can be found on our Payments page.