From Yahoo Finance: 2025-05-09 16:21:00

U.S. port docking fees have been a cause for concern in the shipping and retail industries, but Maersk reassures customers there will be no direct impact. Chinese-owned ships face increasing fees starting at $50 per net ton, while Maersk falls under a lower fee bracket at $18 per net ton.

Maersk’s fleet of 737 ships, along with its alliance with Hapag-Lloyd, will make it easier to switch to USTR-compliant vessels. Only 20% of current container ships calling at U.S. ports will be affected, but the industry is prepared to swap vessels to maintain operations.

Gemini Cooperation, a partnership between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, maintains high schedule reliability with a 90.3% rate across all port calls. CEO Vincent Clerc highlights the alliance’s ability to adjust capacity based on demand, ensuring efficient operations without resorting to blank sailings.

Revised port fees will impact Chinese carriers like Cosco Shipping and OOCL the most, with over 1,300 U.S. port calls made in the past year. This could disrupt plans for the Ocean Alliance, potentially leading to a shift in carriers on the trans-Pacific trade lane to avoid fines and maintain service levels.



Read more at Yahoo Finance: Maersk Expects No Cost Impact From Port Fees, Assures ‘Unchanged’ Service