EUROPE/RED SEA/MIDEAST CONFERENCES RAISE FUEL CHARGE

EUROPE/RED SEA/MIDEAST CONFERENCES RAISE FUEL CHARGE    Three conferences of shipping lines in the trade connecting Europe, the Red Sea and the Mideast have announced identical increases in their bunker surcharges.
   The Aqaba Rate Agreement, the Jeddah Service Group and the Europe Middle East Rate Agreement will raise their bunker adjustment factors from $25 to $30 per TEU on April 3.
   The bunker increases follow a rise in the fuel surcharge implemented in February.
   The three conferences said in identical statements that the increases reflect higher bunker costs borne by conference carriers.
   The members of the Aqaba Rate Agreement are Andrew Weir Shipping (Ellerman), CMA CGM, Contship Container Lines, Hapag-Lloyd, P&O Nedlloyd, Safmarine (CMB Transport) and United Arab Shipping Co. (UASC).
   Jeddah Service Group lines are CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk Sealand, National Shipping Co. of Saudi Arabia (NSCSA), NYK, P&O Nedlloyd and UASC.
   The Europe Middle East Rate Agreement carriers are Andrew Weir Shipping (Ellerman), CMA CGM, DSR-Senator Lines, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk Sealand, P&O Nedlloyd, Safmarine (CMB Transport) and UASC.