PEAK SEASON: Maersk Line To Halt Surcharges From September 1

MAERSK Line has instructed its commercial department to stop applying the peak season surcharge from It further stated that “we would like to thank you for the supporting document you shared shedding light on the meeting between the ECSA and UASC”. .

This was in response to protests by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council which recently convened a meeting of the Organized Private Sector (OPS) to deliberate on the astronomical peak season surcharge imposed by shipping lines calling in Nigeria.

According to a statement issued by  Rakiya Zubairu , Head of Public Relations, Nigerian Shippers Council on Monday, disclosed that a letter signed by Lara Lana, MD of MAERSK Nigeria and addressed to the ES/CEO of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, stated that “our principals in our Head Office have informed us of your letter with subject reference increase in peak season surcharge”.

It further stated that “we would like to thank you for the supporting document you shared shedding light on the meeting between the ECSA and UASC”.

The Union of African Shippers’ Council (UASC), subsequently backed Shippers’ Council calls for immediate suspension of the peak season surcharge calling it a violation of previous UASC/European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA) agreement requiring prior, mutual and reasonable notification of UASC and PMAWCA by individual shipping companies before any such imposition of new tariff, surcharges or increase in transport cost.

Recall that stakeholders in the maritime sector recently condemned the 400% surcharge by the multinationals saying its a conspiracy theory against Nigeria.