Hapag-Lloyd has introduced an Emergency Operations Charge (EOC) applicable to container shipments utilizing third-party feeder services in the Middle East, effective in response to sustained cost pressures arising from regional geopolitical volatility and associated operational disruptions.  

This measure follows persistent instability in the region, which has led to significant increases in bunker fuel prices and, consequently, elevated service fees levied by external feeder operators. While Hapag-Lloyd’s existing Emergency Fuel Surcharge (EFS) covers fuel-related cost escalations within its own vessel network, the EOC specifically addresses incremental charges imposed by independent feeder providers—thereby ensuring comprehensive cost recovery across the end-to-end transport chain.  

The EOC will be applied as a destination- and origin-based surcharge: Emergency Operations Charge at Origin (EOO) and Emergency Operations Charge at Destination (EOD), depending on the contractual terms and trade lane. It is standardized at USD 35 per TEU for all container types, including dry, reefer, and specialized units.  

For non-Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)-regulated trades, the EOC will apply to shipments with a tariff-effective date on or after 1 May 2026. For FMC-regulated trades, implementation will commence on 24 May 2026, in full compliance with U.S. regulatory filing requirements and notice periods. 

The charge is payable by the party responsible for ocean freight payment and reflects verifiable, pass-through costs incurred due to third-party feeder operator adjustments under prevailing market conditions.  

Hapag-Lloyd emphasizes that this temporary, cost-reflective measure is essential to safeguard service continuity, uphold schedule integrity, and preserve the reliability of feeder-dependent connections amid ongoing regional uncertainty.

Resource.: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/2JZHd68Vl8SAZRPzNfKkxA