To avoid the new costs they have redirected the affected ships towards alternative ports in Asia
/Marseille – The shipping companies Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have decided to change the route of two US-flagged container ships that were destined for Chinese ports in response to the new “Special Port Fees” imposed by Beijing. Announced by the Chinese Ministry of Transport on October 10th and effective from October 14th, the tariffs affect ships built in the United States, registered under the American flag, or owned by American companies. To avoid the new costs, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have redirected the affected ships towards alternative ports in Asia, focusing especially on South Korean ports of call like Busan, where the unloading of cargo now takes place. This operational change aims to limit costs and disruptions while maintaining service continuity, Maersk specified in a note. Industry sources report that the ships involved were originally built in South Korea and employed on the transpacific TP7 route, which connects Asia to North America. Both carriers are evaluating the broader consequences in terms of routes, costs, and logistics in the region, signaling persistent uncertainty in US-China maritime traffic.
