Maersk Sealand, a leading shipping line operating between Pakistan and Europe, has announced its vessel Maersk Arizona would not call at Port Qasim for the two weeks from December 13 to 26 due to repairs, and the only vessel calling at the Port during this period would be m.v.Orange. It may be pointed out that Maersk Sealand operates a twice-weekly service from Port Qasim for the exports to Europe and USA. Under the new arrangements, the line would operate a single-weekly service during December 13 to 26.
The move would seriously affect Pakistan's exports to Europe and the USA, as there is a great rush of the shipments in the last fortnight of December to beat the quota export deadline falling on December 31. Being the last quota year, the rush of the export shipments is unusual this year, as the buyers want maximum quantities of the textile products before January which would bring about 11 percent import duty due to expiry of the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). Meanwhile, Maersk Sealand has raised its demurrage charges for the import containers from Europe and the Gulf.
According to the revised structure for all the import containers, the free time will be of seven days. In cases where the cargo moves to up country locations via merchant haulage, the free time will be 12 days. Demurrage, at the rate of five dollars per Teu will be charged from day eight to day 14, 10 dollars per Teu from day 15 to day 21 and 20 dollars per Teu from day 22 to day 31.
There will be no change in detention and free time structure for the reefer containers.