FECF lifts UK congestion charge
The lines belonging to the Far Eastern Freight Conference have lifted their controversial UK port congestion charge.
Shippers' representatives complained bitterly when the FEFC Lines imposed the surcharge on 29th October.
In a statement the FEFC secretariat says the member lines have been monitoring the situation in United Kingdom ports in order to make the 60-day review as previously announced. It says: “An improvement in the port congestion situation in the UK has been detected and, in the light of this, Lines have decided to suspend the UK Port Congestion Surcharge with immediate effect while keeping the situation under review.”
However the FEFC cautions: “Port congestion continues to be an expensive and inefficient aspect of European maritime activity, in both Northern Europe and the Mediterranean and the FEFC Lines are very concerned at the current situation and the likelihood of future increased congestion with ever-growing container volumes.”
Shippers' representatives complained bitterly when the FEFC Lines imposed the surcharge on 29th October.
In a statement the FEFC secretariat says the member lines have been monitoring the situation in United Kingdom ports in order to make the 60-day review as previously announced. It says: “An improvement in the port congestion situation in the UK has been detected and, in the light of this, Lines have decided to suspend the UK Port Congestion Surcharge with immediate effect while keeping the situation under review.”
However the FEFC cautions: “Port congestion continues to be an expensive and inefficient aspect of European maritime activity, in both Northern Europe and the Mediterranean and the FEFC Lines are very concerned at the current situation and the likelihood of future increased congestion with ever-growing container volumes.”