TACA PLANS TO IMPOSE WEST COAST PORT CONGESTION SURCHARGE

TACA PLANS TO IMPOSE WEST COAST PORT CONGESTION SURCHARGE    Member lines of the Trans-Atlantic Conference Agreement said Thursday they plan to impose a temporary U.S. West Coast Surcharge, effective Nov. 9.
   TACA reported that member lines will assess a surcharge of $500 per TEU on eastbound and westbound cargo. However, TACA said 'this is not intended to be the final amount of the surcharge.' The conference will monitor the situation at the ports through Nov. 9, based on congestion and related conditions and make appropriate adjustments to the surcharge.
   The charge is to costs borne from congestion at the West Coast ports following the Pacific Maritime Association's 11-day lockout of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. The lockout ended late Wednesday after President Bush successfully sought an injunction against the PMA and ILWU under authorities granted the president under the Taft-Hartley Act.
   Both sides have entered an 80-day 'cooling off period' normal operations are to resume as the PMA and ILWU attempt to come to a mediated agreement on a new contract to replace the one that expired June 30.