Starting next month, the Mediterranean will become part of the Emission Control Areas (ECAs). In these areas it is forbidden for ships to use fuels with sulphur limits over 0.1% , compared to the 0.5% standard imposed globally from 2020.
The establishment of the world’s fifth ECA, after those in the Baltic Sea; the North Sea; North America (US and Canada); US Caribbean Sea (Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands), will have major repercussions for shipping operators, subjecting vessels operating in the Mediterranean to higher costs, unless they are equipped with scrubbers.
It is precisely in order to cope with these possible price increases that the major container shipping companies have recently announced new surcharges, in addition to those already introduced in the past to support the extra costs resulting from the implementation of the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
In particular, Maersk said it had incorporated the new extra costs into the Fossil Fuel Fee (FFF), with prices ranging from a maximum of €272 per 20’ box for the Northern Europe-Mediterranean route to a minimum of €239/TEU for services between Northern Europe and the Western Mediterranean.
The one introduced by CMA CGM will instead be called “Low Sulphur Surcharge” and will apply to all Mediterranean transits.
ONE has also decided to introduce a Mediterranean ECA Surcharge of $17 per TEU for each shipment with a destination or origin in the Mediterranean. the Japanese carrier stated that the ECA surcharge would be reviewed and updated on a quarterly basis.
Translation by Giles Foster
