MSC announces a Security Risk Surcharge of USD 55 per TEU for cargo from Asia to select Mediterranean ports, effective 15 September.
MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) has issued a formal notice announcing the implementation of a Security Risk Surcharge, effective from the estimated date of 15 September, applicable to all cargo moving from Asia to a designated range of destination ports. The surcharge is set at USD 55 per TEU and reflects the sustained navigational risks currently affecting vessel operations across waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula - disruptions that continue to place measurable pressure on shipping networks and transit schedules.
The surcharge applies to a broad set of ports across Egypt, Turkey, Georgia, and neighbouring countries. Specifically affected ports include Aboukir, Alexandria (Old Port), Aliaga, Antalya, Batumi, Burgas, Constanta, Evyapport, Gebze, Gemlik, Giresun, Iskenderun, Istanbul, Izmir, Mersin, Odessa, Poti, Samsun, Tekirdag, Trabzon, and Varna.
Industry analysts point to a sustained elevation of navigational risk across waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula as the principal driver behind this latest charge. Vessels transiting the region now operate under heightened alert conditions, with a number required to modify speed profiles and reroute from standard lanes - developments that extend voyage durations and introduce additional complexity into network planning. High-risk zone compliance further demands the deployment of onboard security personnel, physical hardening measures, and supplementary emergency response protocols for crews.
Collectively, these operational requirements extend transit cycles, increase per-voyage costs, and compound scheduling uncertainty across affected trade lanes - forming the direct commercial rationale for the surcharge.
This measure does not stand in isolation. MSC has previously introduced comparable surcharge arrangements covering routes in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz and select ports across the Middle East, reflecting a consistent pattern in which geopolitical risk translates, with increasing directness, into carrier operating costs.
From a broader industry perspective, the continued evolution of the security environment across the Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and Arabian Peninsula-adjacent waters has prompted multiple liner carriers to deploy surcharge mechanisms as a means of redistributing a portion of elevated risk costs to the market. Such charges are typically assessed independently of base ocean freight rates and remain subject to revision as the operational environment develops.
Shippers and freight forwarding firms with cargo moving to affected destinations are advised to address the following considerations with appropriate urgency:
First, confirm applicable ports and effective dates. The surcharge encompasses ports across the Eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea, and North Africa. The precise scope of applicable routes and confirmed effective dates should be verified against the latest notices issued by MSC's local offices. Each shipment should be reviewed individually to confirm whether the origin, destination port, and container type fall within the charge parameters.
Second, conduct a comprehensive cost recalculation in advance. Security risk surcharges are levied independently of base freight rates and may accumulate alongside fuel surcharges, peak season surcharges, terminal handling charges, and other applicable fees. Quotations and contract negotiations should incorporate adequate provision for surcharge adjustments to prevent cost estimation shortfalls.
Third, evaluate alternative routing options. For cargo destined for the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea, shippers are advised to assess the viability of alternative transshipment hubs or multimodal solutions in light of ongoing carrier network adjustments, with a view to balancing cost exposure against transit time requirements.
Fourth, maintain close monitoring of geopolitical developments and carrier communications. The security environment across the Arabian Peninsula region remains subject to significant uncertainty, and both the surcharge level and its scope of application may be revised as conditions evolve. Continuous tracking of official MSC announcements and local agent advisories is recommended to enable timely adjustment of export schedules.
