CMA CGM Boosts Piracy Risk Surcharge

CMA CGM will increase its piracy risk surcharge for transporting containers through the Gulf of Aden next month, the French carrier said Tuesday.

The company said the transit of containerships through the Gulf of Aden in both directions is subject to high costs caused by the prevailing risks of piracy in the area.

CMA CGM’s action comes as the number of pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden and the seas off the Horn of Africa has increased sharply since the end of the three-month-long monsoon season in the Indian Ocean in September.

The carrier said it follows best practices to evade pirate attacks when passing through the Gulf of Aden, including steaming at faster speed, following evasive routes and joining convoys protected by coalition warships under the Atalanta scheme whenever possible.

CMA CGM will boost its prevailing Aden Gulf surcharge to $41 per 20-foot container, which will be implemented on all containers transiting this area effective Dec. 15.

The carrier said the surcharge is in addition to any short-term or long-term rate agreement already concluded with customers or to be concluded.

Contact Peter T. Leach at pleach@joc.com.