The surcharge per container is 200 units in the corresponding currency
As of November 1, 2026, the shipping company MSC has implemented an additional operating surcharge for containerized cargo departing from Black Sea ports and other regions to Northern Europe. The fee is set at 200 dollars, euros, or pounds sterling per unit. This was reported by USM — ports and shipping, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The application of the fee, known as the Emergency Operations Surcharge, covers shipments headed to ports in North-West Europe, the UK, and the Scandinavian-Baltic region. In addition to the Black Sea basin, the new terms affect logistical routes passing through Turkey, Greece, and Adriatic ports, excluding Italian terminals.
The carrier’s statement explains that the decision to introduce the extra fee is necessary to offset rising operational costs driven by current market conditions. The company emphasizes that this measure is intended to ensure the stability of services providing direct connections to Northern European countries.
Route network optimization
Beyond implementing financial surcharges, MSC is adjusting the port rotation for its Main service. The updated schedule includes vessel calls at Le Havre, Antwerp, Felixstowe, Vigo, Sines, Piraeus, as well as the Turkish ports of Gemlik, Tekirdag, and Aliaga. The return route for vessels will now pass through Sines toward Le Havre.
These schedule changes aim to increase the reliability of maritime shipments and reduce vessel turnaround times. Through these measures, the company expects to maintain efficient connectivity between the Eastern Mediterranean and Northern European ports.
Competitive landscape
The new tariff structure is based on the Bill of Lading date and remains in effect until further notice from the carrier. It is worth noting that other operators are taking similar steps: for instance, Hapag-Lloyd previously introduced a 30 USD per TEU surcharge for feeder shipments at European ports, including Chornomorsk.
Photo: USM — ports and shipping
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