Bonn and Andernach Barge Update: Maersk Ends Contingency Fees

01 / Verified carrier notices

Two terminal notices, one important distinction

Maersk says improved Rhine water levels and operating conditions allow barge services to and from Bonn and Andernach inland terminals to resume. The 29 October notices replace its August disruption notices, dated 12 August for Bonn and 7 August for Andernach.

The carrier removes the temporary Landside Contingency Surcharge effective 27 October 2026 for import and export cargo moving through the respective terminals, including inland points served through them:

• Bonn: the discontinued charge was EUR 175 per container, described as Landside Contingency Origin for exports and Landside Contingency Destination for imports.
• Andernach: the corresponding discontinued charge was EUR 625 per container for each direction's applicable origin or destination charge.

These are separate terminal amounts. They should not be added together as a standard EUR 800 saving for one container. The relevant notice depends on the shipment's actual inland routing and charge scope.

02 / What remains

The Low Water Surcharge has not been withdrawn

Both notices explicitly retain Maersk's Low Water Surcharge (LWS) under its previously published Rhine and Benelux update. The end of the terminal contingency arrangements therefore does not mean all Rhine-related surcharges have ended.

The notices do not supply a replacement all-in inland rate or a new LWS amount. Ask for the current charge breakdown rather than estimating the payable total by deleting every low-water-related line. Nor do these carrier-specific announcements establish the charging policy of another operator.

03 / Shipment implications

Reconcile the booking before revising the delivered-cost budget

For an importer or exporter, the useful next step is to match the announcement to the individual movement. The following are practical checks, not additional conditions announced by Maersk:

• Identify the actual terminal. Confirm Bonn or Andernach, the import or export direction and the inland origin or destination. A nearby delivery address alone does not establish which terminal charge applies.
• Ask how the effective date is applied. Compare the booking, movement and invoice dates with 27 October. Obtain the carrier's confirmation for the specific reference if a contingency line remains on a quotation or invoice; the publication date alone does not resolve a billing dispute.
• Keep the charge lines separate. Distinguish base inland transport, terminal contingency, LWS and any other agreed accessorials. Preserve the earlier and revised quotation so the comparison uses the same route, container and service scope.
• Reconfirm the physical connection. Before removing a road or rail fallback, confirm the barge booking, terminal acceptance, onward connection and cargo cutoff. Permission to resume a service does not prove a particular container has departed.

For commodity consignments, keep payload, packaging and delivery-window assumptions unchanged while comparing the revised route. A lower quoted charge is useful only if the same cargo requirement and handoff scope are being priced.

A multimodal shipment plan should connect the inland leg with the seaport schedule and final delivery arrangements. Keep planned, estimated and confirmed movements separate when updating the buyer.

Resumption is not a Rhine-wide all-clear

Maersk continues to warn of low-water effects on Rhine barge transportation. The notices do not guarantee a transit time, unrestricted capacity or unchanged conditions for later sailings. Use the latest booking-specific confirmation before committing to a revised delivery date.