Member lines of the India-Pakistan-Bangladesh-Ceylon Conferences will impose a congestion surcharge for all laden containers moving through India's eastern ports of Kolkata and Haldia.
Cargo shipped from Kolkata/Haldia to Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysian ports will attract a surcharge of US$150 per TEU.
A similar fee will also apply to all laden import boxes arriving at Kolkata/Haldia from the countries, effective November 1.
The move comes after feeder operators serving Kolkata/Haldia decided to levy similar surcharges, following berthing delays and low productivity at the gateway ports.
The 16 member lines of the IPBCC said they have no alternative but to recover the additional cost from customers.
Meanwhile, carriers in the local Container Shipping Lines' Association supported the surcharge by feeder operators and called on port management to take immediate steps to resolve current problems.
The association said the feeder operators are entirely justified in deciding to apply surcharges to recover the costs of delays and will continue to do so until such time as the situation improves significantly.
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