The European Shippers’ Council (ESC) is criticizing Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM for their plans to implement fuel surcharges they say will help cover costs associated with meeting 2020 global sulphur deadlines.
“Carriers impose it unilaterally without any negotiation with shippers and ignore a market approach to the global problem,” the ESC said in a press release issued Tuesday. “This does not set an ideal cooperation scenario.”
The new International Maritime Organization low-sulphur regulation will take effect at the beginning of 2020 and will require all shipping companies to reduce their sulphur emissions by 85 percent. Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM all have announced new surcharges to take effect at the beginning of 2019.
The ESC said it is monitoring bunker surcharges and encourages shipping lines to negotiate all freight costs with shippers.
“Within the new commercial framework of logistics stakeholders, the imposition of bunker surcharges restrains cooperation and lacks transparency. What is most important, it decreases potential innovative solutions and results in a low acceptance by shippers,” the ESC said.