Maersk delays EU manifest fee for Greek shipments

Maersk delays EU manifest fee for Greek shipments    Maersk Line has pushed back the date to begin collecting a fee associated with new European advanced manifest rules for shipments to Greece.
   The Danish line will begin collecting the fee, which it calls the Cargo Declaration Data fee, beginning Feb. 15 for cargo headed to Greek ports. Maersk announced the fee in November, saying it would begin collecting the $25 per bill of lading fee on Jan. 1, to coincide with the start of the new EU advanced manifest rule.
   The rule requires liner carriers to submit an entry summary declaration to the first EU port of call at least 24 hours before cargo is loaded onto the vessel bound for the European Union. In early January, Maersk said it had postponed collection of the fee until Jan. 15 'to allow shippers to better familiarize themselves with the new rules.'
   In a customer notice last week, Maersk said the fee collection postponement for Greek shipments is due to delays in local customs systems. It also said the fee for shipments to Finland is 25 euros, not $25 per bill of lading.
   Maersk also said a Cargo Declaration Amendment Fee, scheduled to be collected as of Feb. 1, will instead likely begin in April “to allow shippers sufficient time to adjust to the manifest procedures.” The amendment fee will be $40 per bill of lading.