Following discussions between ISC and the shipping companies serving Israel, an agreement was reached regarding the levy of congestion surcharge for a period of 3 months
Following discussions held between the Israeli shipper's council ( ISC) and the shipping companies serving Israel, an agreement was reached regarding the levy of congestion surcharge for a period of three months.
Following the agreement, Zim lines announced late last week that a congestion surcharge will be imposed on ships calling the ports of Ashdod & Haifa, with effect from June 1st 2006 until August 31st 2006.
The new congestion surcharge will apply to the following services: Israel – Adriatic sea - Israel Service, Israel – Thyrrhenian sea – Israel Service, Israel – Black Sea – Israel Service, Israel – Coastal Service – Israel, The Europe Mediterranean Trade Agreement (EMTA).
The surcharge will be applied at the following rates:
Haifa – US$30 per TEU, US$2 W/M
Ashdod – US$22.5 per TEU , US$1.5 W/M
Minimum per B/L – US$1.5.
These surcharges will apply to exports and imports and will be charged to the freight paying party.
According to ISC's spokesman the shipping conference agreed to change its charging system: instead of charging a percentage of the shipping cost, it will charge a fixed rate per TEU.
Following the announcement, Ashdod Port Company CEO Shuki Sagis said, “There is no justification for imposing a congestion surcharge. There was some congestion in early April, because of seasonal factors but Israel’s situation is good, compared with the world"
