TACA REVISES U.S. WEST COAST/EUROPE RATE STRUCTURES

TACA REVISES U.S. WEST COAST/EUROPE RATE STRUCTURES    The Trans-Atlantic Conference Agreement has restructured its U.S. West Coast/North Europe tariff, introduced a separate Panama Canal charge, and reaffirmed a plan to raise westbound freight rates.
   Effective Nov. 1, the carrier group will state and bill separately a “Panama Canal transit charge” of $100 per container. A spokesman for the Trans-Atlantic Conference Agreement said that ocean rates will be adjusted downwards following the introduction of the separate Panama Canal charge.
'    The Panama Canal charge, applicable eastbound and westbound, will be increased to $105 per container next July, to reflect the two-stage canal toll increase recently announced by the Panama Canal commission.
   The Trans-Atlantic Conference Agreement has also announced “a re-evaluation of the relativity between Atlantic Coast and West Coast tariff rates.”
   David Jeffries, general manager of the Trans-Atlantic Conference Agreement, said that the conference would follow through with a previously announced plan to increase westbound tariff rates taking effect today. Under the general rate increase program, westbound would go up by $320 per 20-foot container or $400 per 40-foot box.
   There are no increases in the eastbound direction.
   The carriers of the Trans-Atlantic Conference Agreement are Atlantic Container Line, Hapag-Lloyd, Mediterranean Shipping Co., Maersk Sealand, NYK Line, Orient Overseas Container Line and P&O Nedlloyd.