'HOW 2 shipping coys suspend surcharge on Nigerian-bound cargoes'

Following the recent multinational shipping line, Maersk suspended the collection of Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) slammed on Nigerian-bound cargoes, the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has also followed suit by suspending the PSS on Nigerian bound cargoes.

To this end, two international shipping firms have now sus- pended the arbitrary surcharge after initial protest by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) over PSS introduced on Nigerian- bound cargoes by multinational shipping companies.

NSC had earlier convened a meeting of the organised private sector to deliberate on the astronomical peak season surcharge imposed by shipping lines calling in Nigeria.

However, the Union of African Shippers’ Council (UASC), subsequently backed shippers’ council and called for immediate suspension of the surcharge calling it a violation of previ- ous UASC/European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA) agreement requiring prior, mutual and reasonable notification of UASC and PMAWCA by individual shipping companies before any such im- position of new tariff, surcharges or increase in transport cost.

But, in a letter to the executive secretary of NSC, Barr Hassan Bello and a copy exclusively obtained by LEADERSHIP, the shipping company said PSS depends on origin of the cargoes.

In the letter signed by its chairman, Gianluigi Aponte, the company however disclosed that PSS on Nigerian-bound cargoes will stop from 1st September, 2020.

The letter reads, “We acknowledge receipt of your letter of 16 August, 2020, content of which received our best attention. After internal investigation, we have found out that the PSS application depending on the origin of the cargo. “However, in view of your request, we have instructed our commercial department to stop applying the PSS from Septem- ber 1st, 2020. Trusting to have satisfied your request,” the letter stated.