THREE more carriers have joined Hanjin and Mediterranean
Shipping Co (MSC) in re-applying their US west coast congestion surcharge that
they had all withdrawn earlier, but now have re-established them in defiance of
official and unofficial protests.
Joining the defiant pair are Hyundai Merchant Marine, NYK
and Zim, which will now levy surcharges ranging from US$800 to $1,000 per FEU
from November 26, reports Newark's Journal of Commerce.
They all withdrew their surcharges, led by Maersk, after
shippers cried out in protest and the US Federal Maritime Commission voice
displeasure and cast doubts about the legality of surcharging cargo at sea.
Meanwhile, 18 ships, among them, 12 box ships, ride at
anchor in San Pedro Bay outside the congested ports of Los Angeles and Long
Beach unable to get a berth, reports American Shipper.
The 12 box ships are the OOCL Kuala Lumpur, OOCL Italy,
NYK Thesius, OOCL Antwerp, APL England, Xin Fei Zhou, the Stadt Aachen, Hanjin
New York, the Ever Develop, the Manulani, Hanjin Buddah and the NYK Silvia.
Meanwhile talks between the International Longshore and
Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the employers of the Pacific Maritime Association
(PMA) continue fitfully.
PMA president James McKenna said he is unhappy with the
union's decision to discontinue talks on coastwide issues after December. 2.
The ILWU says it wants to focus on subcommittee
negotiations, which involve mostly local issues at the individual port ranges.
Mr McKenna complained of union slowdowns plaguing
terminal operations, including the ILWU's refusal to dispatch qualified yard
crane operators.
ILWU spokesman Craig Merrilees said that while
subcommittee negotiations involve mostly local port issues, the smaller
committees in the past have also addressed a variety of coastwide issues.
Source : HKSG.
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