South China shippers slam emergency bunker surcharges

Hong Kong: In a coordinated move, the China Shipper's Association, Shenzhen Shipper's Association, Hong Kong Shippers' Council and Macau Shippers' Association have taken action and protested to authorities in Hong Kong and China, calling for the immediate withdrawal of the newly introduced Emergency Bunker Surcharge (EBS). In a letter, the shippers' organisations served notice to the shipping lines to desist in their tactics to collect EBS as it is a groundless fee and there is no justification for collecting the charge.
According to the shippers' groups, EBS is charged from February 2010 by shipping lines on the China--intra-Asia trade route and is being collected for all export shipments from China at ports of origin, regardless of whether the cargo has been "pre-paid at origin" or "collected at destination".  The shippers said they strongly object to the EBS for it being "unreasonable and discriminatory" and calling for its immediate withdrawal.  [30/03/10]