Transbox, the container transport provider in Benelux and brand of Contargo, is introducing a congestion surcharge for containers to be handled in Rotterdam – a move expected to help ease any future congestion.
The Port of Rotterdam has seen a rise in congestion from inland vessels since the beginning of the year, with many barges having to wait for up to 92 hours to be processed. To continue with its own schedules, Transbox has had to charter additional tonnage, because its own vessels were still waiting to be processed, which in turn has led to significant additional costs for the company.
“In order to be able to continue to offer this product, we will be levying a surcharge of €6 per teu for full and empty containers, for all transports to Rotterdam, commencing with departures on 30 March 2015”, said Marcel Hul-sker, managing director of Transbox.
“This decision stands until the situation improves again. We will continue to keep a close watch on the situation in Rotterdam. We would ask our customers to book as early as possible to en-able us to plan more efficiently,” he added.
Elsewhere, parent company, Contargo, is also passing on a part of its additional costs as a result of congestion at the port to its customers via an €18 surcharge per container to and from Rotterdam (full/empty).
The surcharge will come into effect for barge departures scheduled on 15 April 2015 and applies for all consignments, irrespective of the starting point.
Contargo says the surcharge will only be discontinued again when processing times in the Port of Rotterdam become considerably shorter.
Transbox offers container transports between the seaports of Rotterdam, Moerdijk and Antwerp, container transport within the seaports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, and the purchase and sale of new and used containers.
