AN international shipping firm, Maersk Line has halted the Peak Season Surcharge it earlier imposed on Nigerian-bound cargoes from September 1, 2020.
Managing Director, Maersk Nigeria, Lara Lana, in a letter to Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) said he has instructed its commercial department to stop applying the 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), had also 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.
TheUASC/EuropeanCommunity Shipowners Association (ECSA) agreement required that 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.
Lana, stated: “Our principals in our Head Office have informed us of your letter with subject reference increase in peak season surcharge”, adding that “we would like to thank you for the supporting document you shared shedding light on the meeting between the ECSA and UASC”.
Nigerian importers had earlier expressed displeasure over huge surcharge imposed on them by the international shipping firms on cargoes imported from across the world.
They stated that surcharge is adding to the high cost of doing business in Nigerian ports, coupled with the challenges of infrastructure deficiency and cumbersome shipping process at the nation’s gateway.
Critical industries in Nigeria are already groaning under the new charges, lamenting that the high prices are shocking its profits, which has already been crashed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
