The  Union  of African  Shippers’  Councils (UASC) has called for the immediate suspension  of  Peak  Season  Surcharges(PSS)imposed  by Shipping Lines serving the West African Trade Route. This is in line with Nigerian Shippers’Council’s (NSC) position.

A press statement by Rakiya Zubairu Head of Public Relations (NSC), said Nigerian Shippers’Council had in an August 16, 2020 letter addressed to the European Community Ship Owners Association (ECSA)and copied to the  UASC  among  others, complained  about  the  outrageousincrease  in surcharges  with  particular  reference  to  Peak  Season  Surcharge  (PSS), levied on Nigeria bound cargo.

In  a  letter  signed  by  the  Secretary-General  Ogoula  Giscard  Lilian,  the UASC strongly condemned the “unilateral and offensive action by ECSA carriers in blatant disrespect of previous agreement and expectations,”stating   that the   action destabilizes the   business   operations   of   its members “through  the  increasing  of  transport  costs  and  weakening  of the  economies  of  UASC  member-states  especially  during  this  outbreak  of Coronavirus pandemic which has kept commercial activity at its lowest in terms of activity and prosperity.

”The letter  to  ECSA  further  stated  that “the  implementation  of  this unilateral decision  on  your  part  is  in  violation  of  previous  UASC/ECSA agreements requiring prior, mutual and reasonable notification of UASC and   PMAWCA   by   individual   shipping   companies   beforeany   such imposition  of  new tariffs,  surcharge  or  increase  in  transport  cost.

The letter referred ECSA to the Report of the UASC/ECSA meeting held on 16 July 2010; Joint Declaration between UASC and ECSA signed in Brussels on 12 April 2012.”UASC then called on ECSA to kindly take the following measures:–Respect   previous   agreements and recommendations   on   this matter;-Suspend   the   application   of the   Peak Season   Surcharge   until discussions on the new surcharges take place.-Take necessary measures to improve on the general transparency and facilitation of trade relation with UASC’s members. It  may  be  recalled  that two  days  ago, Nigerian  Shippers’Council convened  a  meeting  of  stakeholders and  the  organised  private  sector to   discuss   the   astronomical   increase   in   PeakSeason Surcharge. The meeting roundly condemned the surcharge.Chief Cajetan Agu, Nigerian Shippers’Council Director of Consumer Affairs   Department   said   a   joint   platform made   up   of   UASC, Shippers’Counciland  other  relevant  stakeholders  will  be  created to facilitate discussions with ECSA.

Picture: Nigerian seaport