The cargo owner. Los Angeles' tariff says charges are paid by the owners of the merchandise and collected by the vessel that loads or discharges it.

What is the difference between wharfage and dockage?

Wharfage is charged on the cargo for passing over the wharf; dockage is charged on the vessel. Los Angeles assesses pilotage and dockage against vessels and wharfage against merchandise.

Is wharfage the same as THC?

No. Wharfage is solely for use of the wharf; terminal handling charges pay for moving the container through the terminal. India's NSICT is one terminal that folds wharfage into its handling charge.

Term

Wharfage

Wharfage is a port's charge on cargo for passing over its wharves, separate from the vessel's dockage and the terminal's handling charge. The Port of Los Angeles bills it per tonne or cubic metre, whichever yields more — $7.54 for general merchandise from April 2026 — and the cargo owner pays it, collected through the vessel.

Also called wharfage charge, wharfage fee, wharf duesUpdated 14 October 2026

What it covers — and what it doesn't

Los Angeles' Tariff No. 4 defines wharfage as the charge on merchandise for its passage onto, over, through or under wharves, and says it is solely for use of the wharf, not for any other service or facility. Pilotage and dockage are assessed against vessels; wharfage is paid by the owners of the merchandise and collected by the vessel that loads or discharges it.

Three ports, three ways

Port	How it is charged
Los Angeles	754 cents per 1,000 kg or per m³, whichever is greater, for general merchandise (from 16 April 2026)
Los Angeles, no measurement	By container length: $469.23 for a 9–13 m box; $22.63 if it is empty
Nhava Sheva, NSICT	Inside the consolidated handling charge, which includes wharfage on the containers' tare weight
Rotterdam	Seaport dues on the vessel instead — by use, gross tonnage and the quantity transhipped

Worked example: one 40 ft box into Los Angeles

18 t and 60 m³ → the greater basis is 60 m³ · 60 × $7.54 = $452.40 · with no measurement declared → charged by length: $469.23

Port of Los Angeles Tariff No. 4, Item 550-001 (Merchandise NOS, 754 cents per KT or m³, effective 16 April 2026). A 40 ft box, at 12.19 m, falls in the 9–13 m band; the shipment is illustrative.

The mistake people make

Treating wharfage as part of the terminal handling charge. Wharfage pays for use of the wharf; THC pays for moving the box through the terminal, and at Jebel Ali DP World has invoiced terminal handling directly to customers since 1 November 2023. When a quote shows 'port charges' as one line, ask which of the two it includes.

FAQ

Wharfage: common questions

Who pays wharfage?: The cargo owner. Los Angeles' tariff says charges are paid by the owners of the merchandise and collected by the vessel that loads or discharges it.
What is the difference between wharfage and dockage?: Wharfage is charged on the cargo for passing over the wharf; dockage is charged on the vessel. Los Angeles assesses pilotage and dockage against vessels and wharfage against merchandise.
Is wharfage the same as THC?: No. Wharfage is solely for use of the wharf; terminal handling charges pay for moving the container through the terminal. India's NSICT is one terminal that folds wharfage into its handling charge.