WTSA TO ADOPT HAZARDOUS CARGO SURCHARGE TO ASIA

WTSA TO ADOPT HAZARDOUS CARGO SURCHARGE TO ASIA    The Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement, a transpacific discussion agreement, said Wednesday its carriers will adopt a hazardous cargo surcharge of $100 per FEU and $80 per TEU, effective July 1.
   The WTSA said carriers are concerned that downward trends in freight rates for U.S. containerized exports to Asia means “that special service requirements and costs involved in handling hazardous and dangerous cargo shipments are not adequately covered.”
   “In recent years, government regulations have steadily tightened with respect to packaging, labeling, stowage and timely transmittal of documentation for hazardous and dangerous cargoes,” the discussion agreement said. “The surcharge is seen as a transparent, understandable approach to including these additional costs in the pricing structure for the handling of hazardous and dangerous chemicals.”
   WTSA members are American President Lines Ltd., COSCO Container Lines Ltd., Evergreen marine Corp. (Taiwan) Ltd., Hanjin Shipping Co. Ltd., Hapag Lloyd Container Line, Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. Ltd., Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd., Maersk Sealand, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., P&O Nedlloyd Ltd./B.V., Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Orient Overseas Container Line Inc. and Yangming Marine Transport Corp.