Maersk Line Bows to Shippers Council Regulatory Powers, Suspends PSS Surcharge
The Nigerian Shippers Council has said that Maersk Line, global shipping giant, has agreed to suspend the collection of Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) on Nigerian Nigerian bound cargoes starting from 1st September 2020.
This is coming after a strong opposition by the Organised Private Sector against the PSS which was slammed on Nigerian bound cargoes by European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA)
About $1,025 or EUR30 was being imposed on 20ft and 40ft containers for cargoes coming from United States and US territories, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.
The Executive Secretary of Shippers’ Council, Barr Hassan Bello at a recent stakeholders meeting described the PSS as insensitive, particularly when the nation’s economy is just recovering a little bit from the effect of COVID-19.
He protested the charge, saying that Nigerian importers were not given any notice on it.
In a press statement signed by the Head of Public Relations of Shippers Council, Mrs Rakiya Zubairu, Maersk Line has instructed its commercial department to stop applying the peak season surcharge from 1st September 2020.
The statement reads “This is in response to protests by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council which recently convened a meeting of the Organized Private Sector to deliberate on the astronomical peak season surcharge imposed by shipping lines calling in Nigeria”
“The Union of African Shippers’ Council (UASC), subsequently backed Shippers’ Council calls for immediate suspension of the peak season surcharge calling it a violation of previous UASC/European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA) agreement requiring prior, mutual and reasonable notification of UASC and PMAWCA by individual shipping companies before any such imposition of new tariff, surcharges or increase in transport cost”
“A letter signed by Lara Lana, MD of MAERSK Nigeria and addressed to the ES/CEO of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, stated that “our principals in our Head Office have informed us of your letter with subject reference increase in peak season surcharge”. It further stated that “we would like to thank you for the supporting document you shared shedding light on the meeting between the ECSA and UASC”.
