MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company wishes to confirm that vessels continue to experience significant delays upon arrival at ports throughout Australia. The congestion in the port of Sydney, initially caused by weather related incidents and then further amplified by recent industrial action, is now causing extended delays at both the ports of Melbourne and Brisbane.

Delays and wait times for vessels to berth in Melbourne are being reported as over 9 days, while in Brisbane the wait time for vessels to berth is now 10 days. In Sydney, wait times are reported in excess of 17 days.

MSC has been proactive in adjusting our vessel schedules to help assist Australian exporters and importers from having to face long and unnecessary delays in their supply chain. MSC also recently took the step of making temporary service adjustments to our Capricorn Service and Kiwi Express, as well as implementing a new Sydney Shuttle service, in order to help mitigate some of these congestion delays.

However, due to the ongoing nature of the congestion and also in order to maintain our liner services at the required levels, a Congestion Surcharge of USD 300 per TEU will be introduced at the ports of Melbourne and Brisbane with the following validity:

• Export cargo to all regions (except U.S.): from B/L date 15 October 2020 onward.
• Export cargo to U.S.: from cargo possession date 29 October 2020 onward.
• Import cargo from Europe/Türkiye /Israel: from B/L date 15 October 2020 onward.
• Import cargo from U.S.: from cargo possession date 29 October 2020 onward.
• Import cargo from southern Africa/East Africa/IPAK/Middle East: from B/L date 15 October 2020 onward

MSC continues to closely monitor the significant congestion delays at Australian ports and will provide updates on any developments.

For further information, please contact your local MSC office.

Note: this notice was updated on 29 September to include cargo from southern Africa/East Africa/IPAK/Middle East, initially omitted from this announcement in error