We Don’t Impose Shipment Surcharges for Shipping Lines – Ghana Shippers’ Authority

The Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) has clarified its role as the regulator of Shipping Service Providers, noting that it doesn’t impose surcharges on shipments on behalf of Shipping Lines.

It comes after the Authority was inundated with social media reports of the imposition of war risk surcharges even before the conflict in the Middle East broke out.

“The Authority regulates charges of Shipping Service Providers to ensure fairness, protection of the interest of the Ghanaian consumer and reduction in the cost of doing business,” it said in a statement.

Accordingly, it said an investigation into the imposed charges is underway, assuring that breaches and unfair treatments would be duly addressed.

Meanwhile, it urged importers to brace for higher freight charges following the introduction of war risk surcharges and emergency conflict surcharges on cargo originating from or transiting through the Middle East following significant disruptions to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime trade corridors.

The Authority noted that the introduction of War Risk Surcharges (WRS) and Emergency Surcharges is intended to offset the significant increase in operational risks and costs associated with navigating high-risk maritime areas.

This, it explained, is a global industry practice for shipping lines when vessels operate in or near conflict-affected regions.

These surcharges serve as temporary cost recovery mechanisms to cover elevated insurance, security and operational expenses arising from additional costs related to security measures, rerouting of vessels, longer transit times and higher fuel consumption.

The situation will have implications on Ghanaian imports, including higher freight rates and shipping costs; longer transit times due to vessel rerouting; supply chain disruptions for certain commodities; possible increase in landed cost of imported goods; delays in vessel availability to the affected region; and Changes in shipping schedules.

Story by Hajara Fuseini

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