MSC surcharges US imports to cover costly UN low-sulphur fuel mandate

GENEVA's Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) will introduce a low sulphur fuel surcharge (LSS) to be included in Bill of Lading on pre-paid, shipped collect, or other way from August 3 to cover costs of US mandated low-sulphur fuel 200 nautical miles from American waters.

Import containers will be charged at US$10/TEU and $20/FEU for import containers at ports of the US east coast and Gulf Coast. The cost for import containers at west coast ports is $12 per TEU and $24 per FEU.

The State of Alaska has taken the matter to US District Court, challenging the US Coast Guard and US Environmental Protection Agency mandate on the basis that it is derived from a UN treaty amendment, which has not yet been ratified by the US Senate.