Additional charges if there is a strike.

From The Journal of Commerce

Surcharges will take effect if ports shut down in labor dispute

Several container ship lines have announced congestion surcharges that will take effect if East or Gulf Coast ports are closed in connection with the International Longshoremen’s Association contract expiration.

The carriers are required to provide 30-day notice of the surcharges, which will be rescinded if the ports stay open. Among the announced surcharges:

-Maersk, for all shipments to from the U.S. and Canada: $800 per 20-foot container, $1,000 per standard 40-footer, $1,125 per 40-foot high-cube, and $1,266 per 45-foot container.
-Cosco, for shipments between Asia and from the U.S. and Canada: $800 per 20-foot container, $1,000 per standard 40-footer, $1,125 per 40-foot high-cube, and $1,266 per 45-foot container.
-NYK Line, for shipments to the U.S. from Asia, the Indian subcontinent and Australia: $1,000 per container.
-Hanjin, for shipments to and from U.S. and Canadian ports, $800 per 20-footer, $1,000 for other sizes.

I don't really know how they can justify these as "congestion surcharges", because no one knows
for sure what ports will be congested.  I really think these should be filed under "strike surcharge",
but of course there could be lots of service contracts which would be exempted from a strike
surcharge, although that would have been pretty foolish on the part of the carriers.

The other thing I would point out...notice how all these charges are "per container", which is
standard in the industry, EXCEPT for the ILA charges.   (see my previous post)
Idiots.