Israeli Shippers' Council challenge congestion surcharge

ISC chairman expressed his thoughts that due the overall improvement at the ports there was no justification to charge congestion charges of more than US$20 per TEU
 
Gad Schaefer, the Israel Shippers' Council (ISC) chairman, said the council was about to address the Israel's Antitrust Authority concerning excessive congestion charges applied by shipping companies.
 
Schaefer noted that there was no justification to the congestion charges which require the immediate intervention of the Antitrust Authority.
 
The ISC said in a press release that thorough study had been carried out on all container vessels calling at the two main Israeli maritime gateways, Ashdod & Haifa, during the last three months, shows that serious delays were recorded in October.
 
"The reasons for the delays were the Jewish High Holidays which fell this year in October as well as backlog of the August & September labor unrest at the ports.
 
Since October, conditions at the ports have been improved and container vessels do not experience any delays."
 
Schaefer expressed his thoughts that due the overall improvement at the ports there was no justification to charge congestion charges of more than US$20 per TEU.  Schaefer added that if ports will continue to improve vessels' turn – around time, the lines will have to do away with the charge.