Asia/Canada carriers retain same peak season surcharge for 2005

Asia/Canada carriers retain same peak season surcharge for 2005    Shipping lines of the Canada Transpacific Stabilization Agreement have agreed to implement their existing $400 peak season surcharge again in 2005, effective from June 15 to Nov. 30.
   The agreement's member carriers say they anticipate at least a 10-12 percent increase in North American import cargo from Asia in 2005. “While new vessel transpacific linehaul vessel capacity will be introduced in 2005, actual availability of slots per sailing will likely remain tight due to growing demand combined with the sustained congestion situation,” the carrier group said in a joint statement.
   Members of the agreement are APL, COSCO Container Lines, Evergreen, Hanjin Shipping, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, “K” Line, Lykes Lines, MOL, NYK Line, OOCL and P&O Nedlloyd.