JOC Staff | Dec 04, 2012 9:09AM EST
Maersk Line announced plans to simplify surcharges by bundling many of the extra charges, including the currency adjustment factor, into the basic ocean freight rate to make it easier for shippers to deal with quotes, contracts and invoices.
The final surcharge structure, targeted for mid-2013, will have fewer and more transparent charges to better define the agreed service level, the world’s largest ocean carrier said.
“This initiative is not about adding cost, but making the cost of a container shipment easier to understand and evaluate,” Maersk said.
“We believe that our customers are weighing all factors when choosing a carrier and that a simpler surcharge structure will help you do so also in future.”
Maersk will launch the first phase of the simplification program on January 1 after consultations with customers signing new contracts or renewing existing contracts effective January 1 and onward.
The carrier will combine eight “non-volatile” freight related surcharges — basic ocean freight (BAS); cargo declaration data fee (CDD), cargo declaration data fee export (EDD), Panama transit fee (PCC), river toll surcharge (RPS), carrier security charge (SER), Suez transit fee (STT) and currency adjustment factor (CAF) — into a basic ocean freight rate.
Phase two will focus on simplifying the “complex landscape of local surcharges,” Maersk said.
“We will maintain a broad catalogue of optional, value-adding services, whilst other charges will be combined into a single Service Charge for origin and destination respectively, local regulations permitting,” the ocean carrier said.
The local origin charge will consist of an origin handling charge and an export service fee. The ocean freight leg will comprise the basic ocean freight, bunker surcharges and seasonal emergency charges. The local destination charge will be made up of a destination handling charge and an import service fee.
“Our customers have requested fewer and more transparent surcharges and we are taking these actions in response,” the Danish carrier said.
