Maersk Line Stops Collection Of Peak Season Charges

 

Harboursandport.com: Lagos - Shipping giants, Maersk Line has instructed its commercial department to stop applying the vexed 400 per cent hike in peak season charges from Tuesday, September 1, 20202.

The stoppage of the  charges is not unconnected with the strong opposition by stakeholders in the maritime industry in the country and at the continental level.

Maersk Line decision is contained in a letter signed by Lara Lana, Managing Director of MAERSK Nigeria and addressed to the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC.

The letter 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.”

Recall that the NSC was in the forefront of the opposition that resulted in the stoppage of the controversial charges.

NSC, in a statement signed by Head of Public Relations of NSC, Rakiya Zubairu read in part, “Maersk Line has instructed its commercial department to stop applying the peak season surcharge from 1st September 2020.

“This is in response to protests by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council which recently convened a 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 Ship-owners 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,” she noted.