Europe/Caribbean lines add Jamaica, Trinidad congestion surcharges

Europe/Caribbean lines add Jamaica, Trinidad congestion surcharges    The Association of West India Trans-Atlantic Steam Ship Lines (WITASS), a carrier group in the Europe/Caribbean trade, said it will implement temporary congestion surcharges for cargo moving to and from ports in Jamaica and Trinidad.
   For Jamaican ports, the surcharge will be 82 euros ($109) per 20-foot container and 164 euros ($218) per 40-foot container.
   For Trinidad ports, the surcharge will be 50 euros ($65) per 20-foot box and 100 euros ($130) per 40-foot container.
   The conference cited “delays and slow working in Jamaica and Trinidad due to congestion at these ports.”
   “This has caused severe disruption to schedules and resulted in considerable extra costs,” WITASS noted. The conference will apply the surcharges as long as the current congestion problems prevail.
   Carrier members of WITASS are CMA CGM, Compania Sud-Americana de Vapores, Hamburg Sud, Hapag-Lloyd, and P&O Nedlloyd.