CMA CGM Group, the world's third-largest container carrier with a fleet capacity exceeding 4.39 million TEU and operations spanning the globe, has announced a new Inland Emergency Fee for intermodal shipments moving through Northern Europe's principal gateway ports. The measure responds to a sustained hydrological crisis on the Rhine and other European rivers, where exceptionally low water levels continue to constrain the inland barge network that shippers depend on for reliable, cost-effective cargo movement.

The Rhine serves as one of Europe's most important freight arteries, connecting the deep-sea terminals of Antwerp, Zeebrugge, and Rotterdam to industrial hinterlands across Germany, Switzerland, and France. When water levels fall, barges cannot load to full capacity, and in severe cases certain stretches become impassable altogether.

According to CMA CGM, the current conditions have produced a chain of operational consequences: reduced transport capacity, significant congestion, extended terminal dwell times, and rising operational costs across the inland supply chain. For cargo owners, each of these factors carries direct implications for transit reliability, inventory planning, and total landed cost.

To sustain cargo flows through the affected corridors, the carrier is securing alternative transport solutions and absorbing the additional costs generated by the disruption. CMA CGM is managing these costs in accordance with Clause 10 of the CMA CGM Bill of Lading Terms and Conditions, the contractual provision that addresses obstacles and events affecting performance of carriage.

The Inland Emergency Fee will apply to all transport modes for inland shipments routed to or from locations served through Antwerp, Zeebrugge, and Rotterdam. By extending the fee across every inland mode rather than barge alone, the carrier signals its intent to keep cargo moving through whichever routing remains viable as conditions shift.

The surcharge is set at two tiers based on destination and origin geography:

- Belgium and Netherlands locations: EUR 50 per container

- Germany, Switzerland, and France locations: EUR 75 per TEU

CMA CGM has established a phased implementation schedule tied to shipment direction and contract type:

- Imports: from August 24, 2026, based on discharge date

- Exports: from September 1, 2026, based on loading date

- FMC contracted cargo: from September 21, 2026

The surcharge will remain in effect until further notice. The carrier stated that it continues to monitor conditions closely and will provide further updates as the situation evolves.

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