Dutch-owned container line Samskip is introducing a pre-Brexit surcharge due to an expected surge in shipments before the presumed UK exit date of 29 March.
The pre-Brexit peak volume fee is EUR 243 ($279) per load up to 1 April.
This will be applied to anything above the average weekly volumes moved with Samskip in 2018 by each customer.
An unspecified free weekly allocation will also be offered during February and March, however.
Samskip has been investing over the last couple of years in North Sea services, with 14 weekly sailings linking Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Gent to the UK ports of Hull, Tilbury, Grangemouth and Belfast.
"As we move towards 29 March, the demand for our transport services avoiding the ferry ports of southern England is increasing," said CCO Jerome Feuvrier.
"Furthermore, we foresee that demand will outstrip supply before abruptly reducing in April as stock is first built up in February and March and then consumed in April before a restart at some point in late April/May."
The charge is aimed at minimising the impact of the "Brexit exceptional situations" and it is redeploying assets to alternative uses where possible, the company added.
Feuvrier said: "However, with all the measures taken we cannot anticipate all the consequences of this process, but we need to be sure that we will protect a reliable service for our customers and as such it is imperative to mitigate the risk by introducing a fee."
Container storage costs are also rising, with a quay rent surcharge of EUR 98 per day applying from 1 February.
