IMO 2020-related fees announced by ocean carriers
As reported in November, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) introduced new environmental regulations aimed at reducing pollution caused by ocean shipping. As of this week, ocean carriers have begun quoting fees associated with the IMO 2020 standards. The effective date of these new regulations is January 1, 2020, although we have seen several quotes with a December 1, 2019 effective date.
The steamship line’s naming conventions for these new fees are also lacking consistency. APL and CMA have dubbed the fee “low sulfur surcharges,” while Maersk and Hamburg Sud refer to the charge as an “environmental fuel fee.” Additionally, other carriers are assessing new bunker surcharges, bunker adjustment fees, and fuel recovery surcharges. The price of the new fees vary by carrier and trade lane.
Trans-Border will continue to monitor the situation and keep you informed of any new developments involved with this initiative. If you have any questions, please reach out to info@tbgfs.com or (800) 493-9444.