MAERSK Line stops peak season surcharge

MAERSK Line has instructed its commercial department to stop applying the peak season surcharge from 1st September 2020.

This was made known by the  Nigerian Shippers’ Council, which  said the decision was in response to its protest during its recently convened meeting of the Organized Private Sector to deliberate on the astronomical peak season surcharge imposed by shipping lines calling in Nigeria.

The Union of African Shippers’ Council (UASC), subsequently backed Shippers’ Council calls for immediate suspension of the peak season surcharge calling it a violation of previous UASC/European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA) agreement requiring prior, mutual and reasonable notification of UASC and PMAWCA by individual shipping companies before any such imposition of new tariff, surcharges or increase in transport cost.

A letter signed by Lara Lana, MD of MAERSK Nigeria and addressed to the ES/CEO of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, stated that “our principals in our Head Office have informed us of your letter with subject reference increase in peak season surcharge.”

It further stated that “we would like to thank you for the supporting document you shared shedding light on the meeting between the ECSA and UASC.”