Due to the operating impact of congestion in the Port of Bilbao in Spain, the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) will apply a congestion surcharge (CGS) for cargo to and from Bilbao.
The new surcharge of €100/US$125 per TEU will be implemented with effect for bills of landing (B/L) dated 16 November onwards for all cargo to/from Bilbao, except cargo to/from the United States, for which the implementation B/L date will be from 5 December onwards.
In addition, CMA CGM will introduce the following emergency port congestion surcharge (PCS) in Conakry, Republic of Guinea as the situation is getting worse at the port.
- Origin: Worldwide
- Destination: Conakry, Republic of Guinea
- Cargo: Dry, Reefer, Out Of Gauge and Breakbulk
- Application date: 10 November (loading date) - Except for US origins: 5 December and Brazil origins: 5 to 31 December, extendable for one month
- Amount: US$200/€170/£150 per unit
- Payment: Prepaid - in addition to ocean freight
These moves come after the announcement from MSC and several other lines for the introduction of a congestion surcharge in Auckland, New Zealand, while industry officials believe that port congestion in the US and Europe is caused by the actions of the carriers earlier in the pandemic lockdown.
MSC said in its announcement it has implemented this surcharge in order to "maintain services at the required level."
The Swiss based carrier added it will continue to monitor the situation in Bilbao and update its charges accordingly.
