Zeamarine will introduce a bunker adjustment clause on September 1, 2019 as it prepares for the implementation of the IMO Sulphur 2020 regulations.

For the company’s global liner services, a low sulphur surcharge of USD35 per freight ton will be implemented and charged to customers for bookings commencing on or after September 1, 2019, irrespective of volume, loading and discharging region. Zeamarine added that this surcharge will replace all current fuel-related surcharges applied to its liner services.

From September 1, 2019, all tramp bookings will be subject to a new bunker adjustment clause that will form part of each individual quotation.

Zeamarine, like many multipurpose shipping lines, is opting to switch from heavy fuel oil (HFO) to a compliant low sulphur fuel. The company is already in the process of preparing the fuel tanks, piping systems and engines of its vessels in order to comply with the regulation when it comes into force on January 1, 2020.

As a result, “significant costs will already incur during the fourth quarter of 2019, i.e. before the official enforcement of the regulation”, said Zeamarine. In addition to the costs related to preparing the fleet, the low sulphur fuel is also significantly more expensive.

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