The Port of New York and New Jersey's new container imbalance fee risks harming supply chain efficiency rather than improving it, argued Robert Cannizzaro, executive director of the Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association (OCEMA), in commentary in New York's Journal of Commerce.

Mr. Cannizzaro stated that ocean carriers share the port's goal of fluid operations but warned that the fee is neither necessary nor well designed. Originally conceived during pandemic congestion, the fee now penalizes carriers despite volumes having normalized and supply chains recalibrated.

He noted that New York's role as the first port of call on the East Coast brings benefits but also structural challenges: import volumes far exceed exports, cargo stowage limits empty repositioning, and yard space has declined even as volumes grow. Cannizzaro urged an independent study of terminal capacity before imposing penalties.

The fee's mechanics are