Shippers beware: FEFC charges keep coming

Shippers beware: FEFC charges keep coming

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Alongside a congestion surcharge for westbound cargo entering the United Kingdom, the Far Eastern Freight Conference on Wednesday also communicated other charges that will lighten shippers’ pockets.
   Firstly, the conference said its 16 member lines will raise their bunker and currency adjustment factors for December. The BAF applicable to the trade to and from the United Kingdom, Northwest Continent, Scandinavia and Baltic Sea will be $394 per TEU (from $359 per TEU) as it will also be for the Mediterranean and West Coast European region. The currency adjustment factor applicable for the month will be 13.2 percent (from 12 percent).
   As part of a general review of inland charges in the Republic of Ireland, the FEFC has decided to implement a terminal handling charge of 105 euros ($152) per general cargo container and 135 euros ($196) for refrigerated containers at the ports of Dublin and Cork, effective Dec. 1. At the same time, the Tariff Additional for Ireland will be adjusted to $350 per TEU and $450 per FEU.
   Over to Russia, and due to what the London-based conference secretariat said were “increasing costs as a result of seasonal operational difficulties” at the Port of St. Petersburg, the FEFC carriers are planning a winter surcharge of $70 per TEU running from Dec. 1 through March 31 2008 “should it be necessary to do so.”
   Port workers at St. Petersburg have reportedly threatened to go on strike in mid-November unless higher pay demands are met.