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MAERSK SAYS its equipment management fee is justified.

According to China Shippers' Association, Shenzhen Tieli Container Transportation Co recently took Maersk, the world's largest container line, to court for collecting Equipment Management Fee of about $3.8 per container starting July last year. According to Shenzhen Tieli Container Transportation, the impost was "illegal and unreasonable" and therefore should be refunded. This was the first lawsuit against a liner shipping company in China. However, the Danish shipping major replied that the Chinese market being open, EMF did not cover the government fixed price and the shipping line therefore had the right to collect the charge which, it was felt, was reasonable.

The matter is still pending in court. In 2004, Maersk took the lead to collect container "sealing fee" in Xiamen port. However, the fee was withdrawn on opposition from shippers, forwarders, truck operators and others. The shipping line then slapped EMF in eight ports in China, evoking sharp reactions from a cross-section of port users.

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