WTSA to boost rates to recover US-Asia fuel costs from April – The Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement shipping lines are raising bunker fuel surcharges across all dry commodity categories on the US-Asia trades to recover rising fuel costs. Starting April 1, WTSA carriers intend to collect an additional US$300 per FEU in bunker surcharges towards WTSA's published bunker surcharge level for agricultural products, chemicals, clay, forest products, hay, metal scrap, plastic scrap and freight-all-kinds (FAK) mixed container shipments.

Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM in new trans-Pacific VSA – JOC - The world’s three largest container lines have entered into the biggest-ever vessel-sharing agreement on the trans-Pacific trade that will enable them to replace four of their own individual services. Maersk Line, Mediterranean Shipping Co. and CMA CGM announced today they will pool their vessels in three new strings of five vessels each between Asia and North America that will replace Maersk's TP5 and TP8, the New Orient Service of MSC, and the Yang Tse Service operated by CMA CGM.

West Coast labor talks to begin March 17 – JOC - Labor negotiations between the union representing West Coast dock workers and management are scheduled to begin on March 17 and expected to produce a settlement before the present contract expires on June 30. Despite the optimism, the industry should be prepared for the unforeseen. Something could go wrong. The negotiations will be tough, challenging and time-consuming.

Cargolux will increase its air fuel surcharge to 80 eurocents ($1.11), effective March 10.

British Airways strike could ground U.S. cargo – JOC - British Airways pilots have voted overwhelmingly to strike in a dispute over employment conditions at a new subsidiary that will operate between continental Europe and the United States. The first pilots’ strike at BA since 1980 will hit both freight and passenger operations at Europe’s third-largest airline, costing an estimated $50 million a day. The earliest a strike can begin is at the end of February as the union must give seven days' notice of a stoppage.

Strike still on at Greek Ports – The strike that began on January 4th is still going on and we don’t know when it will end. Some carriers will not accept bookings to Greece, while other carriers will as they are using a private Greek port.  

New Shipper's Hazardous Declaration - Many steamship lines now require the innermost packaging quantity, type and net quantity per inner packaging for combination packaging; in addition to the outermost packaging quantity, type and material. Providing this information on the initial hazardous declaration may avoid rejections, delays or declaration revisions. The new hazardous declaration can be found on the Phoenix Website/Services/Export Compliance page.

Genoa port congestion continues – American Shipper - The Port of Genoa, Italy, continues to suffer congestion at its container terminal. Some carriers have since moved their services to alternative ports. The Voltri terminal is expected to reopen to exports some time this week, but it could take two or three more weeks to clear the backlog.

Our summary articles are compiled from a number of public sources that, to the best of Phoenix’s knowledge, are true and correct. In the event any information provided is erroneous, Phoenix International Freight Services, Ltd. accepts no liability or responsibility.