Israeli Shippers' Council challenges THC

The issue was studied by the Antitrust Authority which agreed, as from 2003, to allow shipping companies to charge THC at the rate of US$29 for TEU and US$45 for FEU
 
The Israel Shippers' Council published last week a press release noting that in recent weeks local shippers have noted a new tendency among shipping companies to charge THC charges at a rate which is over and above the agreed rate.
 
The ISC said last week that local shippers have issued numerous complaints regarding an apparent new pricing policy adopted by various shipping companies to overcharge THC.
Due to the complaints a decision had been taken by the ISC to refer the issue again to Israel's Antitrust Authority.
 
The ISC reiterated their view for the reincorporation of Terminal Handling Charges (THCs) into the ocean freight rates and for more transparency on the components of THC where requested by shippers. Terminal handling charge has been a long-standing issue among Israeli shippers. Shippers have complained that these charges are non-transparent, unjustified and baseless.
The issue was studied by the Antitrust Authority which agreed, as from 2003, to allow shipping companies to charge THC at the rate of US$29 for TEU and US$45 for FEU.
 
Spokesmen for the shipping companies community argued that the idea to refer the issue to the Antitrust Authority is irrelevant since the new EU policy does not allow foreign shipping companies co-ordinate surcharges. He reminded that on September 25, 2006the European Union adopted Regulation 1419/2006 repealing the block exemption, meaning that price fixing and capacity regulation in liner conferences will not be permitted on trade to and from EU ports as from October 18 2008.