AFTER withdrawing its west coast congestion surcharge - as other shipping lines have done - the Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) now tells customers it will be collected from November 26 at US$800 per TEU, $1,000 per FEU and $1,125 per 40-foot high-cube.

This according to a customer advisory obtained by Newark's Journal of Commerce and also reported by American Shipper, the charge is now back over objections of shippers and regulators doubts about its legality.

Nine other carriers also suspended newly announced transpacific port congestion surcharge, which had been announced in a press release from the quasi-conference Transpacific Stabilisation Agreement (TSA).

While shippers vociferously objected, the US Federal Maritime Commission cast doubt on the legality of applying surcharges on cargo still at sea.

Like the others, MSC had first announced plans November 14 to apply the congestion surcharge last Monday to be applied to all "all cargoes discharged or gated in at USWC ports on or after November 17, 2014".