DANISH shipping giant Maersk Line is to impose a transit surcharge of US$30 per TEU for all cargoes transiting the Panama Canal following the decision by the canal authority to raise a US$10,000 per transit fresh water surcharge for all ships longer than 38.1 metres.
Maersk's surcharge, which will come into effect of April 1, is twice the $15 per TEU charge imposed by rival French shipping line, CMA CGM and its subsidiary APL.
The Panama Canal Authority introduced the measure last month to fight an ongoing drought in the Central American nation, reported Singapore's Splash 247.
In January, acknowledging the climate crisis, the authority announced a $10,000 fresh water surcharge for all transits, effective February 15. In addition, a variable fee ranging from a minimum of one per cent to a maximum of 10 per cent of the vessel's toll will be applied. The percentage to be applied will depend on Gatun Lake's level at the time of transit.
Gatun Lake is a key part of the waterway, where water levels have dropped alarmingly over the last 12 months. The official lake level will be published daily, as well as forecasted for the following two months.
The Central American nation has battled enormous droughts of late, which saw the canal's watershed being 20 per cent below normal levels last year.
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Maersk's surcharge, which will come into effect of April 1, is twice the $15 per TEU charge imposed by rival French shipping line, CMA CGM and its subsidiary APL.
The Panama Canal Authority introduced the measure last month to fight an ongoing drought in the Central American nation, reported Singapore's Splash 247.
In January, acknowledging the climate crisis, the authority announced a $10,000 fresh water surcharge for all transits, effective February 15. In addition, a variable fee ranging from a minimum of one per cent to a maximum of 10 per cent of the vessel's toll will be applied. The percentage to be applied will depend on Gatun Lake's level at the time of transit.
Gatun Lake is a key part of the waterway, where water levels have dropped alarmingly over the last 12 months. The official lake level will be published daily, as well as forecasted for the following two months.
The Central American nation has battled enormous droughts of late, which saw the canal's watershed being 20 per cent below normal levels last year.
WORLD SHIPPING