U.S./AUSTRALIA/NZ CARRIERS ADD CHASSIS CHARGE IN U.S.

U.S./AUSTRALIA/NZ CARRIERS ADD CHASSIS CHARGE IN U.S.    The major conference and non-conference carriers in the
U.S./Australia/New Zealand trade are introducing a new chassis charge in the U.S., effective from January.
   The United States Australia Agreement said that it will levy a $40-per-container chassis charge on southbound shipments, from Jan. 1. The carriers of the United States Australia Agreement are Australia-New Zealand Direct Line, Columbus Line, CMA CGM, Contship Containerlines, P&O Nedlloyd and Wallenius Wilhelmsen.
   FESCO, a non-conference carrier in the U.S./Australasia trade, also announced the introduction of a chassis charge on southbound shipments, at the same level, from Jan. 8.
   In addition, the United States Australia Agreement carriers plan to raise freight rates in the southbound trade, effective Jan. 1. The rate increases depend on the commodity types. For freight consolidated containers, freight rates will go up by $480 (U.S.) per 40-foot container.
   On Monday, Australia-New Zealand Direct Line, Columbus Line, FESCO and P&O Nedlloyd/Blue Star Line announced a vessel-sharing agreement that would reduce the number of vessels deployed by the four carriers on the U.S. West Coast/Australia/New Zealand route from 22 to 15 .