Maersk to levy surcharge as crisis rages

NEW DELHI: Integrated shipping and logistics company Maersk has decided to levy a temporary emergency bunker surcharge on new cargo bookings to ensure the cross-border movement of essential items amid the ongoing crisis in West Asia. However, the surcharge is subject to regulatory approvals and will apply globally, including India, without exception from March 25, a company official said.The evolving security situation continues to be challenging, impacting logistics and customer supply chains, the company official added.As of now, Maersk is not taking any bookings to and from the UAE, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. New bookings are being taken from, and to markets such as India and other non-affected countries in the far east, Europe, etc., the official said. Explaining the rationale behind the move, the company official said that around 20% of global fuel moves through the Strait of Hormuz, and the current situation surrounding the strait has significantly impacted global access to fuel.