Maersk has announced a new Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) on refrigerated cargo bound for Tema, Ghana, affecting shippers moving goods from the Far East, Middle East and the Americas.

What the Surcharge Covers

The surcharge applies specifically to reefer containers travelling to Tema from three major origin regions: the Far East, the Middle East, and the Americas. Maersk has set the charge at US$300 for a 20-foot reefer container and US$600 for a 40-foot reefer container. The surcharge will stay in place until Maersk gives further notice, so shippers should not assume it is a short-term or one-time measure.

When It Takes Effect

The new charge starts on 16 November 2026 for most shipments. However, cargo moving to what Maersk calls "regulated countries" will see the surcharge apply slightly later, from 1 December 2026. Shippers booking reefer cargo to Tema around these dates should check which timeline applies to their shipment based on origin and routing.

How the Rate Is Calculated

For bookings outside the SPOT rate system, Maersk will use a Price Calculation Date (PCD) to determine whether the surcharge applies and at what rate. For non-FMC shipments, the PCD is tied to the scheduled departure date of the first water leg, as confirmed at the time of booking. For shipments falling under FMC rules, the PCD instead refers to the final container gate-in date. Notably, the surcharge does not apply to SPOT bookings at all, so shippers using SPOT rates for Tema-bound reefer cargo will not see this additional charge.

Maersk has also indicated that the surcharge will be collected according to existing freight payment terms, and that other local or contingency surcharges may still apply on top of this new PSS. This means the reefer surcharge should be treated as one component of total freight cost rather than the only additional fee shippers might face.

What This Means for Shippers and Cargo Owners

For companies shipping refrigerated goods to Tema from the Far East, Middle East or Americas, this surcharge adds a predictable but real cost increase starting in mid-November, with a later start date for regulated-country shipments. Shippers using standard (non-SPOT) bookings should factor in the extra US$300 or US$600 per container when calculating landed costs, especially for time-sensitive perishable cargo where reefer transport is already a higher-cost option.

Those booking through SPOT rates can avoid this particular surcharge, which may make SPOT bookings more attractive for reefer cargo to Tema in the near term, though rates and availability under SPOT programs can vary and may carry their own trade-offs in terms of guaranteed space or rate volatility.

Shippers should also confirm which Price Calculation Date rule applies to their shipment, particularly if cargo falls under FMC regulations, since this affects whether the new surcharge will be triggered based on vessel departure or container gate-in timing. Because the surcharge is described as open-ended, businesses with ongoing or recurring reefer shipments to Tema should build this cost into longer-term budgeting rather than expecting a quick rollback.

Finally, since other local and contingency surcharges can still apply alongside this new PSS, shippers should request a full breakdown of applicable charges from Maersk or their freight forwarder before finalizing bookings, to avoid unexpected costs at the time of payment.

Sources: container-news.com