Maersk priority loading comes under shippers' fire

The UK's Shippers' Voice has criticised Maersk's priority loading scheme, saying shippers were being told to pay more for what they have already paid for.

"Many lines have been offering this for the past six months or more, by rolling freight that belongs to customers who have not agreed to a premium rate, when ships have been near to capacity," was a shipper's quote published on the website.
Shippers' Voice, a partisan news and views site, also questioned whether the new service meant shippers who had signed space agreements were not actually guaranteed what they had paid for, unless they paid the premium, reported London's International Freighting Weekly.
Maersk said the price of its priority service would be based on supply and demand and could vary from week to week, saying cost per box would be US$200 to $3,000.