FMC Investigates Hapag-Lloyd D&D Invoices

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) announced an investigation into Hapag-Lloyd’s detention and demurrage invoicing practices. The Commission’s Bureau of Enforcement, Investigations, and Compliance (BEIC) initiated an investigation into 159 detention and demurrage invoices totaling $1,191,470. This investigation stems from an NVOCC charge complaint filed in February 2025.

According to the FMC’s Order to Show Cause, Hapag’s detention and demurrage invoices did not comply with the U.S. Shipping Act and the FMC’s regulations regarding invoicing deadlines. Specifically, the 159 invoices, which Hapag revised to include required data, were re-issued more than 30 days after the date on which the last charge was incurred. This violated FMC’s invoicing deadline regulations at 46 CFR 541.7(a). Under the FMC’s regulations, such non-compliant invoices must be waived or otherwise cancelled.

The FMC ordered Hapag to respond to the investigation to show why it should not be ordered to waive the invoices and why civil penalties should not be assessed.

The matter is being investigated and prosecuted under Docket No. CC-002. For more details visit the FMC’s online reading room. The FMC’s reading room provides access to FMC dockets, related documents, notices, and orders.

FMC Receives One New Formal Complaint

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) received one new formal complaint in February 2026 alleging violations of the U.S. Shipping Act and FMC regulations.

Unreasonable Shipment Handling Practices – FMC Docket No. 26-03:  Gator Fabrication Technology, LLC., a Florida-based importer, filed a formal complaint against Flador Global Logistics and NTG Air & Ocean, LLC., both ocean transportation intermediaries.

Gator alleges that Flador and NTG violated the Shipping Act by failing to observe just and reasonable practices in connection with the handling and delivery of property. Specifically, Gator claims that it arranged for three equipment shipments with Flador. The second shipment was allegedly damaged in transit, as a result Gator withheld a portion of the monies owed to Flador. Subsequently, according to Gator, Flador and NTG placed a maritime lien on the third shipment. NTG is allegedly holding the cargo at a warehouse pending payment for the second shipment.

Gator requests the Commission order Flador and NTG to cease and desist from these Shipping Act violations, to implement lawful and reasonable practices going forward, to release the detained cargo, and to pay reparations for the unlawful conduct, together with interest, and any other amounts the Commission deems just and proper.

For more details visit the FMC’s online reading room. The FMC’s reading room provides access to FMC dockets, related documents, notices, and orders.

Transpacific Westbound Carriers Update Fuel Surcharges Effective April 1, 2026

Several carriers serving the USA/East Asia trade lanes (U.S. Exports) have adjusted their fuel surcharges for the April to June 2026 quarter. Here is a table of carriers that have posted BAF amounts:

TRANSPACIFIC WESTBOUND (USA to Asia)
BUNKER ADJUSTMENT FACTOR (BAF), April – June 2026, in USD, per 40ft ctr, except as noted below
Carrier	Dry Cargo		Reefer Cargo
	From US Atlantic/Gulf Coast Ports	From US Pacific Coast Ports	From US Atlantic/Gulf Coast Ports	From US Pacific Coast Ports
CMA CGM (see notes 1, 8)	60	30	110	80
COSCO (see note 2)	283	181	425	272
Evergreen (see note 8)	224	112	596	315
HMM (see note 3)	248	378	2078	1282
ONE (see notes 4, 8)	214	136	364	204
OOCL (see notes 5, 9)	96	89	144	134
Yang Ming (see notes 6, 8)	160	96	599	323
ZIM (see note 7)	77	58	116	87

NOTE 1:  CMA CGM calls the above Bunker surcharge the Bunker Adjustment Factor Surcharge (BAF-03), tariff Rule No. 010.4. Low Sulphur Surcharge IMO2020 (LSS20) is not applicable at this time.

NOTE 2: COSCO calls the above surcharge the Bunker Surcharge (BUC), tariff Rule No. 010-001..

NOTE 3:  HMM calls the above charge the Bunker Surcharge (BUC) Rule No. 10-02A. HMM also filed in its FMC tariff Rule 10-02F, Environmental Compliance Charge (ECC), effective April 1, 2026. The ECC amounts are USD 32/63/63/63 per 20/40/40HC/45ft, respectively, for dry cargo moving via West Coast; and USD 12/24/24/24 per 20/40/40HC/45ft, respectively, for dry cargo moving via East Coast, Gulf.

NOTE 4:  ONE calls the above surcharge the ONE Bunker Surcharge (OBS). Any reference to Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF) or Fuel Adjustment Factor (FAF) within a duly filed service contract shall be construed as referencing the same surcharge as ONE Bunker Surcharge (OBS) as detailed within Tariff Rule No. 102.001, whether as an exception or as a reference to this charge.

NOTE 5:  OOCL calls the surcharge the Fuel Cost Recovery Charge (T-62). The Fuel Cost Recovery Charge will not apply to shipments when Bunker Surcharge and/or Low Sulphur Fuel Surcharge and/or Low Sulphur Adjustment Charge are already applied or included in the base rate.

NOTE 6:  Yang Ming calls the above surcharge the New Bunker Charge, Tariff Rule No. 10-AH.

NOTE 7:  ZIM calls the above surcharge the New Bunker Factor – Far East (NBF), Tariff Rule No. 010-NB.

NOTE 8:  Subject to Low Sulphur Fuel Charge (LSF or LSS).

NOTE 9:  Updated on a monthly basis.

Each carrier maintains its own tariffs and controls its own pricing.

Transpacific Eastbound Carriers Adjust Fuel Surcharges Effective April 1, 2026

Several carriers serving the East Asia/USA trade lanes (U.S. Imports) have adjusted fuel surcharges effective April 1 through June 30, 2026. Details are as follows.

TRANSPACIFIC EASTBOUND (Asia to USA)
BUNKER ADJUSTMENT FACTOR (BAF), April – June 2026, in USD, per 40ft ctr, except as noted below
Carrier	To US Atlantic/Gulf Coast Ports		To US Pacific Coast Ports		To IPI/MLB via US Pacific Coast
	Dry	Reefer	Dry	Reefer	Dry	Reefer
CMA CGM (see notes 1, 7)	890	1068	469	562	469	562
COSCO (see note 2)	931	1571	515	869	515	869
Evergreen (see note 7)	941	1360	405	645	405	645
HMM (see notes 3, 8)	1046		593		920
ONE (see notes 4, 7)	346	496	218	286	546	614
OOCL (see notes 5, 8)	933	1574	483	815	807	1362
Yang Ming (see note 7)	416	599	224	323	224	323
ZIM (see notes 6, 7, 8)	771	1156	578	867	578	867

NOTE 1:  CMA CGM calls the above surcharge the Bunker Adjustment Factor Surcharge (BAF03), Tariff Rule No. 010.08. Low Sulphur Surcharge IMO2020 (LSS20) is not applicable at this time.

NOTE 2:  COSCO calls the above surcharge the Bunker Charge (BUC), Tariff Rule No. 010-003.

NOTE 3: HMM calls the above charge the Bunker Charge, tariff Rule 2-63. HMM also filed in its FMC tariff Rule 2-95, Environmental Compliance Charge (ECC), effective April 1, 2026. The ECC amounts are USD 100/111/125/141 per 20/40/40HC/45ft, respectively, for destination USWC/USWC Local/IPI/MLB; and USD 180/200/225/253 per 20/40/40HC/45ft, respectively, for destination USEC (all water)/USGC/RIPI.

NOTE 4:  ONE calls the above surcharge the ONE Bunker Surcharge (OBS). Any reference to Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF) or Fuel Adjustment Factor (FAF) within a duly filed service contract shall be construed as referencing the same surcharge as ONE Bunker Surcharge (OBS) as detailed within Tariff Rule No. 102.001, whether as an exception or as a reference to this charge.

NOTE 5:  OOCL calls the above surcharge the Fuel Cost Recovery Charge (T-62). The Fuel Cost Recovery Charge will not apply to shipments when Bunker Surcharge and/or Low Sulphur Fuel Surcharge and/or Low Sulphur Adjustment Charge are already applied or included in the base rate.

NOTE 6:  ZIM calls the above surcharge the New Bunker Factor – Far East (NBF), Tariff Rule No. 010-NB. Service contract cargoes subject to Carrier’s published BAF and/or EBS shall not be subject to NBF.

NOTE 7:  Subject to Low Sulphur Fuel Charge (LSF or LSS).

NOTE 8:  Updated on a monthly basis.

Each carrier maintains its own tariffs and controls its own pricing.

Transpacific Eastbound Carriers File GRIs Effective March 15, 2026, and April 1, 2026

Several leading carriers serving the Transpacific container trades have recently updated their respective tariffs to include new General Rate Increases (GRIs) effective March 15, 2026, including CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, Hapag Lloyd, HMM Company Limited, Yang Ming, and ZIM. See table below for GRI amounts per 40ft container; GRI amounts for all other container sizes are as per formula. The March 15th GRIs will be the sixth GRI of 2026 for the East Asia/USA trade lane. 

TRANSPACIFIC EASTBOUND (Asia to USA)
GENERAL RATE INCREASE (GRI) Effective March 15, 2026
Carrier	in USD, per 40ft ctr
CMA CGM	2000
COSCO (note 1)	3000
Evergreen (note 2)	3000
Hapag Lloyd	3000
HMM	3000
Yang Ming	2000
ZIM	2000

NOTE 1:  COSCO GRIs apply on all cargo moving under service contracts only.   

NOTE 2:  Evergreen GRIs will be USD 3000 per 40ft container for dry cargo, and USD 3000 per reefer container. GRI amounts for all other container sizes are as per formula. 

Some carriers also updated their tariffs to include new General Rate Increases (GRIs) effective April 1, 2026, including CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, Hapag Lloyd, HMM Company Limited, Yang Ming, and ZIM. See table below for GRI amounts per 40ft container; GRI amounts for all other container sizes are as per formula. The April 1st GRIs will be the seventh GRI of 2026 for the East Asia/USA trade lane. 

TRANSPACIFIC EASTBOUND (Asia to USA)
GENERAL RATE INCREASE (GRI) Effective April 1, 2026
Carrier	in USD, per 40ft ctr
CMA CGM	2000
COSCO (note 1)	3000
Evergreen (note 2)	3000
Hapag Lloyd	3000
HMM	3000
Yang Ming	2000
Zim	2000

NOTE 1:  COSCO GRIs apply on all cargo moving under service contracts only.   

NOTE 2:  Evergreen GRIs will be USD 3000 per 40ft container for dry cargo, and USD 3000 per reefer container. GRI amounts for all other container sizes are as per formula. 

Each carrier maintains its own tariffs and controls its own pricing.