Maersk removes heavy-load surcharge on northwest India–Europe contract shipments

Maersk has withdrawn its Heavy Load Surcharge (HWS) for eligible 20-foot dry containers moving from northwest India to North Europe and the Mediterranean, effective from 7 November 2026. The change covers contract bookings through Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Pipavav and Hazira, removing the surcharge for containers with a Verified Gross Mass (VGM) exceeding 22 tonnes.

The announcement, issued on 6 November, sets the applicable HWS rate at zero. It gives exporters using the specified gateways a reduction in this component of their shipping charges, while other applicable freight-related charges continue.

Which shipments qualify for the change?

The advisory specifies 20-foot dry containers, identified by Maersk’s equipment code 20DRY, on the following routes:

Eligibility is restricted to contract bookings. Local charges, contingency charges and other applicable surcharges remain payable. The withdrawal therefore changes a specific tariff component rather than establishing a new all-inclusive freight rate.

How is the effective date determined?

Maersk applies the revision using the Price Calculation Date (PCD). For the non-spot bookings covered by the advisory, this means the scheduled departure date of the first water leg recorded when the booking is confirmed.

The relevant date is therefore linked to the confirmed sailing schedule, rather than simply the date on which an exporter requests a quotation or submits a booking.

When was the heavy-load surcharge introduced?

Maersk announced the introduction of the charge on 23 June 2026, with implementation from a PCD of 7 July. That advisory covered the same four northwest Indian loading ports and shipments to Europe and the Mediterranean.

The earlier measure applied to 20-foot dry containers exceeding 22 tonnes gross weight. The latest announcement reverses that charge approximately four months after its introduction.

The June advisory also linked the charge to the container’s verified gross mass, making the weight of the complete packed unit relevant to the surcharge calculation.

What does verified gross mass include?

VGM covers the cargo, packing and securing materials, and the empty container’s tare weight. It is therefore different from the net weight of the goods alone.

Under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), shippers are responsible for providing verified container weights sufficiently early for vessel stowage planning. The requirement took effect on 1 July 2016.

The International Maritime Organization permits two verification methods: weighing the packed container, or weighing its cargo and packing materials and adding the container’s tare weight through an approved certified method.

Does the surcharge withdrawal change loading requirements?

The commercial tariff change does not remove the obligation to provide accurate weight information. VGM remains a condition for loading packed containers aboard ships covered by SOLAS.

Accurate mass information supports safe stowage and stacking, helping prevent container-stack failures and cargo losses. A container whose verified weight is unavailable in time for preparation of the stowage plan can be denied loading.

For exporters and freight forwarders, the practical distinction is between pricing and cargo acceptance: the heavy-load charge becomes zero for qualifying bookings, while weight verification and vessel-loading requirements continue to apply.