gCaptain | March19, 2025
Atlantic Container Line (ACL), a specialized carrier, projects dramatic cost increases: export container rates could surge from $500 to $2,500, while import rates could jump from $2,500 to $4,500. ACL warns they would be forced to “terminate its US service, close its American offices, lay off its American staff and redeploy its ships to non-US trades.”
The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) emphasizes that U.S. shipbuilding capabilities are currently insufficient, citing decades of industry decline. This limitation is further highlighted by ICS data showing U.S.-built ships cost four times more than foreign-built vessels, with delivery times exceeding 10 years for specialized vessels.
Boycott Lanai