TRANSPACIFIC CARRIERS SUSPEND SERVICES, DECLARE “FORCE MAJEURE”

TRANSPACIFIC CARRIERS SUSPEND SERVICES, DECLARE “FORCE MAJEURE”

TRANSPACIFIC CARRIERS SUSPEND SERVICES, DECLARE “FORCE MAJEURE”

   Most transpacific container shipping lines have suspended their Asia/U.S. West Coast services and are refusing to take more bookings as the U.S. West Coast port stoppage continues.
   “K” Line and MOL are also among carriers that have also formally notified their customers of a declaration of “force majeure.” Because of exceptional circumstances beyond their control, the ocean carriers will now not be liable to shippers for their inability to perform services mentioned under their service contracts.
   The West Coast port shutdown, started on Sept. 29, has already severely disrupted the movement of ships and cargo, the return of empty containers, and the upstream and downstream flow of products from Asian factories to U.S. final destinations.
   Maersk Sealand said that it has suspended its TP6, TP5, TP6A and TP3 transpacific West Coast services, as well as its TA3 transatlantic West Coast service. The Danish mega-carrier said that its services calling at ports on the West Coast of Mexico and the U.S. East Coast, as well as its TP1 service from the West Coast to Hawaii and Guam, would continue.
   “The current labor disruption on the U.S. west coast is interfering with “K” Line’s operations and creating hardships to perform to our quality standards throughout U.S. and Canada,” “K” Line said.
   Because containers are sitting idle at terminals and at shippers’ premises, certain carriers are also reviewing whether to relax rules on container demurrage — the payment of costs related to the use of a container beyond the free time period.