Maersk introduces new surcharge on Mediterranean–North America shipments
Maersk has announced the introduction of a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) of US$250 per container for shipments from a range of origins grouped under its West Mediterranean tariff scope to the United States and Canada.
The surcharge will take effect on 1 December 2026 and remain in place until further notice.
According to the carrier’s customer advisory, the charge applies to all container types covered by the tariff, with the same amount imposed on 20-foot, 40-foot and 45-foot equipment.
Surcharge applies across multiple origins
The new PSS covers shipments originating from several Mediterranean countries, including Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Malta and Cyprus.
The announced scope also includes a broader range of European countries and territories, such as Albania, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, Andorra, Monaco, Gibraltar and San Marino.
Additional origins listed in the advisory include French overseas territories and locations, among them Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion and Mayotte.
For all covered origins, Maersk has established a uniform surcharge of US$250 per container for shipments destined for the United States or Canada.
Application depends on booking arrangements
The carrier stated that the applicable charge will be determined according to the Price Calculation Date (PCD) for non-SPOT bookings.
For non-FMC shipments, the PCD generally corresponds to the scheduled departure date of the first water leg recorded when the booking is confirmed.
For FMC-regulated shipments, the relevant date is the last container gate-in date for non-SPOT bookings.
For SPOT bookings, the applicable surcharge is determined according to the booking confirmation date or the first vessel’s estimated departure date, as specified in the booking arrangements.
Maersk indicated that the charge will normally be collected at origin unless alternative payment terms have been selected.
The announcement introduces an additional tariff component for affected shipments from 1 December, with no specified end date.
Surcharge details
| Container size | PSS per container |
|---|---|
| 20-foot | US$250 |
| 40-foot | US$250 |
| 45-foot | US$250 |
