Caribbean Shipowners Association adopts guideline for peak-season surcharge

JOC Staff |

The members of the Caribbean Shipowners Association (CSO) have adopted a voluntary guideline calling for the implementation of a 2014 Peak Season Surcharge (PSS).

PEAK SEASON SURCHARGE: Effective September 28, 2014 through January 3, 2015:

A temporary Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) of $175 per TEU will be applied without exception on southbound cargo to CSO Caribbean basin service destinations.

The stress on availability of containers and space to serve exports from the United States is expected to last through the 2014 peak season.

This surcharge will enable carriers to recover the higher costs caused by increased volumes, including equipment positioning, labor overtime, port congestion, cruise liners and extra loaders.

The practice of adjusting prices to reflect seasonal demand is common in many industries. It is designed to shift the peak demand to better match supply thus avoiding service delays during peak periods. This surcharge will be assessed as follows:

20 foot container: $175.00

40 foot container: $350.00

Over 40 feet: $394.00

Vehicles up to 700 cft: $105.00 each

Vehicles exceeding 700 cft: $8 w/m (40 cft or 2,000 lbs)

Breakbulk, LCL: $8 w/m (40 cft or 2,000 lbs)

LCL (1 cft): $.21/cft

LCL (100 lbs): $.42/cwt

The members of the CSO implementing this surcharge include CMA CGM, Crowley, King Ocean, Seaboard, SeaFreight, Tropical, United States Lines and ZIM.

The surcharge will be applicable on all U.S. Southbound cargo to the following Caribbean destinations:

Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saba, St Eustatius, St Kitts, Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent, Trinidad, Jamaica, Guyana and Suriname.

For further information please contact your carrier of choice.