For weeks now, the barges of Contargo's fleet have had to wait increasingly long for unloading and loading. Throughput times of 50 hours, peaking at up to 120 hours, are unfortunately no longer an exception.

Unfortunately we must now pass on a part of the costs to our customers.  For this reason, from Friday, 14 July 2017 (date of scheduled barge departure) we shall be making a congestion surcharge of EUR 19.50 per container. This surcharge applies irrespective of the navigational area of the Rhine for all loads and terminals in the seaports of Antwerp and Rotterdam until 31 August 2017.

If the situation has not substantially improved by that point, we shall also have to extend the surcharge beyond 31 August 2017. We will inform you of this in good time.

Since handling procedures in the seaport are not within the scope of our responsibility, unfortunately we cannot accept any responsibility for disruptions in this area, nor can we accept responsibility for delays and the costs resulting from them.

If hindrances occur in loading and unloading, according to §§ 412, 419 of the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch HGB,) in conjunction with § 26 of the German Inland Waterways Act (Binnenschifffahrtsgesetz, BinSchG) the customer ordering the transport has a general obligation to reimburse the costs.

We very much regret this measure and assure you that we will do our utmost to transport your containers punctually.

By booking in good time, you help us to simplify the planning for our fleet.

We thank you for your support and your understanding!