Caribbean Shipowners Plan Rate Increases, Peak Season Surcharge

The carriers of the Caribbean Shipowners Association (CSA) — Bernuth, CMA-CGM, Crowley, Seaboard Marine, Seafreight Line, and Zim — have agreed to implement a pair of general rate increases over the coming months, the organization announced on March 8.
The rate hikes will apply to all dry and reefer cargo moving both northbound and southbound between the United States and Anguilla, Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saba, St. Barths, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Jamaica, Guyana, and Suriname. They will apply to all public tariffs and service contract rate levels.

The two increases, which will take effect on May 2 and on Sept. 5, 2010, will each be as follows:
    * US$50 per 20′ dry/reefer equipment
    * US$100 per 40′ dry/reefer equipment
    * US$113 per over 40′ dry/refrigerated equipment

In addition, the CSA member carriers have announced plans to implement a peak season surcharge from Oct. 10, 2010, through Dec. 12, 2010. The CSA said its members are voluntarily implementing the surcharge to encourage customers to ship either before or after that season, which sees substantial cruise line activity in the region. The amount of the surcharge will be announced before June 1, according to the CSA.