Hapag to charge US$100/TEU low water St Lawrence River fee

GERMANY's Hapag-Lloyd has told shippers it will apply a US$100 per TEU and $150 per FEU on cargo moving through Montreal to and from north Europe because of this year's low water levels in the St Lawrence River.

"This year the water levels of the St Lawrence have dropped below historic lows due to less snow over the winter, followed by an unseasonably warm and dry spring," the carrier said.

"Latest official forecasts do not show any improvement and the situation will most likely continue or even deteriorate in the next months," said the carrier.

The move follows Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) implementing the same surcharge cost for a Low Water Additional for all cargo moving via the port of Montreal from Europe effective August 1.
(Source:www.schednet.com)