In a further effort to crack down on misdeclared cargo, Maersk Line will introduce a $500 fee for special and out-of-gauge cargo if the actual dimensions of the cargo differ from booking details.
Maersk has warned shippers that, from 1 July, even if the actual sizes differ from booked dimensions by as little as a few centimetres, the fee will be applied.
A customer advisory explains that, globally, it sees around 20% of all cargo changing dimensions from booking to loading, with 6% causing issues “due to misdeclaration where it is either not safe nor operationally feasible to handle the shipment”.
It adds: “Furthermore, the fee is not added as a penalty per se, but is introduced to cover all additional administrative efforts these misdeclarations cause, among others the re-quote, terminal checks for feasibility and costs, as well as documentation amendments.”
However, should there be divergence in dimensions, as long as Maersk is notified of the updated size before the cargo passes the terminal in-gates, the shipper would be able to avoid the fee.
“The dimensions are, typically, not known 100% at the time of quoting and booking. However, after lashing and at the time of pick-up, the final dimensions are typically available. If the customer is still unable to provide updated dimensions, they are always able to add a few centimetres buffer to the assumed dimensions during the booking stage, if the quoted dimensions are not exceeded,” it said.
Source: TheLoadStar
Maersk has warned shippers that, from 1 July, even if the actual sizes differ from booked dimensions by as little as a few centimetres, the fee will be applied.
A customer advisory explains that, globally, it sees around 20% of all cargo changing dimensions from booking to loading, with 6% causing issues “due to misdeclaration where it is either not safe nor operationally feasible to handle the shipment”.
It adds: “Furthermore, the fee is not added as a penalty per se, but is introduced to cover all additional administrative efforts these misdeclarations cause, among others the re-quote, terminal checks for feasibility and costs, as well as documentation amendments.”
However, should there be divergence in dimensions, as long as Maersk is notified of the updated size before the cargo passes the terminal in-gates, the shipper would be able to avoid the fee.
“The dimensions are, typically, not known 100% at the time of quoting and booking. However, after lashing and at the time of pick-up, the final dimensions are typically available. If the customer is still unable to provide updated dimensions, they are always able to add a few centimetres buffer to the assumed dimensions during the booking stage, if the quoted dimensions are not exceeded,” it said.
Source: TheLoadStar