West Coast South American carriers set two-stage fuel surcharge

West Coast South American carriers set two-stage fuel surcharge    Ocean carrier members of the West Coast South America Discussion Agreement (WCSADA) have announced a two-stage implementation of an increased emergency fuel adjustment factor, imposed 'because of the severity of escalating fuel costs.'
   The fuel surcharge for both northbound and southbound traffic will be $250 per TEU, WCSADA said in a statement.
   The southbound increase will take effect with cargo being Nov. 20, and the northbound increase will be effective Jan. 1.
   'Appropriate upward or downward adjustments will be made based on fluctuations in fuel prices,' WCSADA explained. 'All rate actions undertaken by the members of WCSADA are done on a voluntary and non-binding basis.'
   WCSADA's members are APL, C.C.N.I., CMA CGM, C.S.A.V., Ecuadorian Line/South Pacific, Hamburg Sud, Mediterranean Shipping, Seaboard Marine and Trinity Shipping.