• Where the SI or Booking is submitted electronically, the charge will be reduced to GBP 15 per B/L in the UK or EUR 25 per B/L in Ireland
• Where the SI and Booking are submitted electronically, the charge will be waived completely

SIs or Bookings submitted via email or through My OOCL Center's Shipment Folder will not qualify for the reduction.

By taking this action we hope to further encourage use of our electronic products for mutual business benefit. Further details can be found in the e-Services panel to the right of this notice. Please note that these changes will not apply to existing Service Contracts or rate agreements with fixed (non-tariff) Export Documentation Fees.

A new UCR Amendment Fee of GBP 35 will apply in the UK whenever a UCR (customs declaration reference) number has to be changed due to a customer error. This is to cover the administrative cost incurred by OOCL when we provide HMRC with a completed C1601 form and ask them to update the relevant port user system.

A new Freight Handling Fee will be applied where charges are collected in the UK or Ireland as a 3rd country (where they are neither the shipment Origin or Destination country). This will be GBP 50 per collection for charges invoiced and collected in the UK, and EUR 50 per collection for charges invoiced and collected in Ireland. This surcharge is to cover the additional administrative costs of collecting money in a location not covered by the shipment route.

An Import Venting Fee will be applied when customers ask OOCL to arrange venting of an import container in Southampton; this will be GBP 200 per 20ft, and GBP 225 per 40ft.

Finally, a Late Shipping Instruction Fee is being introduced. Where the B/L is issued in the UK or Ireland for shipments that are not subject to customs' advance manifesting regulations, we will apply this surcharge if the SI is received after the vessel has sailed. The quantum will be GBP 30 for the UK, and EUR 30 for Ireland. To avoid this surcharge we encourage customers to provide their SIs in a timely manner, so that cargo can be manifested prior to sailing as required by maritime law.


The changes mentioned above will apply to all bookings and B/Ls unless explicitly agreed otherwise in the prevailing rate agreement or Service Contract. 

For rating purposes, the shipment dates are defined as:-

All local surcharges can be viewed here for the UK and here for Ireland

If you have any questions with respect to the above, please contact your local Customer Service Centre or Area Sales Manager.