Maerskline  buckles under pressure — backs out of peak season surcharge 

Segun Oladipupo/Seun Abiola   |   
 
Following the protest by the Organised  Private Sector (OPS) coordinated by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the Maerskline  has instructed its commercial department to stop applying the peak season surcharge from 1st September 2020. 

Recall that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council recently convened a meeting of the Organized Private Sector (OPS) to deliberate on the astronomical peak season surcharge imposed by shipping lines calling at Nigerian ports. 

The Union of African Shippers’ Council (UASC), subsequently backed Shippers’ Council calls for immediate suspension of the peak season surcharge,  calling it a violation of previous UASC/European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA) agreement requiring prior, mutual and reasonable notification of UASC and PMAWCA by individual shipping companies before any such imposition of new tariff, surcharges or increase in transport cost.

In a release by Head, Public Relations of NSC, Rekiya Zubair, Lara Lana, MD of M Maersk Nigeria, in a signed letter addressed to the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Council, stated that there was directive from the head office of the shipping line directing it against the status quo ante.

“Our principals in our Head Office have informed us of your letter with subject reference increase in peak season surcharge.

“We would like to thank you for the supporting document you shared shedding light on the meeting between the ECSA and UASC,” the letter read