Three out of every 10 commercial vessels owned by Greeks are projected to face charges of at least $1 million per U.S. port visit starting mid-year if Washington, as anticipated, imposes steep fees on ships constructed in China and the companies managing them.
The announcement regarding these decisions is slated for April 17, with further discussions on the implementation details scheduled for mid-May. While it remains unclear who will bear the cost of these fees, they are expected to primarily affect charterers and exporters primarily, inevitably driving up transportation expenses.
Numerous organizations have voiced opposition to this policy, including the World Shipping Council, the International Chamber of Shipping, major international shipowner associations, Bimco, Intertanko, the European Community Shipowners’ Association, and several U.S.-based groups like the American Association of Port Authorities. Despite the tariffs revealed on Wednesday, there is a widespread consensus that blocking this measure will be challenging.
Approximately 30% of the Greek-owned fleet, across all vessel types, is estimated to be Chinese-built. Additionally