Maersk to Introduce Tanker Surcharge for the First Time

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Friday June 8, 2012

Maersk Tankers, a division of A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S (Maersk) will impose fuel surcharges on tankers for the first time, news agency Reuters have reported.

Bunker surcharges have already been imposed for dry-bulk, container, and roll on/roll off (ro-ro) shipping, but this would be a first for tanker transport.

Hikes in bunker costs, weak freight rates, and the downturn in the global economy were cited as reasons prompting the surcharge, although Maersk have not said how much it will be.

Hanne Sørensen, Maersk Tankers' CEO, said they would inform customers how much fuel costs are contributing to their bills, but "we will have this done in one way or another."

She explained that because of the way billing works in the tanker industry, "we do not get compensated at all for the increase in bunker costs that has taken place."

Based on the rated scale by Worldscale in London, Sørensen said that annually published rates are the result of 15 month-old data, with the scale not representing the increased bunker costs since 2006.

Sørensen said the company, which made a net loss of $151 million in 2011, was now focusing on boosting it's revenues and was doing all it could "to reduce costs, work smarter and so forth."

She also said that in the future, Maersk Tankers might be involved in fewer parts of the business.

Maersk Tankers own and operate a fleet of product, gas, and very large crude carriers (VLCCs).

Ship & Bunker News Team
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