Carrier Accuses Terminal Operator SSA of Charging Unfair Fees
U.S. terminal operator SSA violated the Shipping Act by imposing “unjust and unreasonable” fees on Bal Container Line Co. Ltd., the Hong Kong carrier alleged in a complaint to the Federal Maritime Commission.
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SSA unfairly assessed more than $8.8 million in congestion surcharges for periods of time when Bal Container’s ability to pick up containers was constrained by circumstances beyond its control or by SSA’s placement of the containers in inaccessible areas at its Long Beach, California, terminal, the 86-page complaint said. The surcharges stemmed from calls that four Bal Container vessels made at the terminal from August to December 2021.
Bal Container said SSA never clearly explained why it imposed the surcharges, despite FMC requirements that call on it to do so. It also claimed that SSA wrongly seized 18 of its containers to try to pressure it to pay the surcharges.
The complainant accused SSA of discriminating against smaller carriers, such as Bal Container, and it described the surcharges as part of SSA’s attempts to take advantage of its customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. “This profiteering was particularly damaging to complainant,” Bal Container said.
Bal Container asked the FMC to hold a hearing on the matter in Long Beach. SSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.