ON MONDAY January 14 (giving the legal 30-days notice) adverts from four shipping conferences were released - announcing a US$75 congestion surcharge on all containers (except transhipment) flowing through Durban from February 15. This to be raised against importers on a collect basis, and exporters on a pre-paid basis. The surcharge will remain in place until the average delay (to vessels berthing in the Port of Durban) as measured in the port over a two months period, reduces to below 12-hours. This shattering news for shippers and importers came from four conferences on the trades between SA and Europe, North America and the Far East.
