Container line MSC has unveiled its new bunker recovery charge (BRC) to recoup its IMO 2020 fuel costs.
From 1 January 2019, it will apply a formula based on the bunker price per ton multiplied by a trade factor.
The fuel price is currently based on the monthly average of the HSFO 380 CST index for each specific trade or service.
From the fourth quarter of next year, the price of low-sulphur fuel oil may apply.
The trade factor figure is arrived at by dividing the fuel consumption per round trip by the the number of teu carried.
At a fuel price of $700 per ton, the BRC will be $434 from Asia to Europe, for example.
MSC said: "We believe that it is essential to segregate transparently the burden of fuel costs, in order for this cost to be passed on visibly throughout the supply chain.
"Passing on that cost is also vital to ensure the sustainable future of the container shipping industry."
The fuel changes will cost it more than $2bn per year.
It has already had to start incurring these costs to be ready for 2020, it said.
MSC added it had come up with the formula after "considerable" analysis of operating costs and related market factors.
The BRC will replace the current bunker contribution (BUC), fuel adjustment factor (FAD) and emergency fuel surcharge (EFS).
Charges specifically related to coastal Emission Control Areas (ECAs) will remain in place.
