MAERSK and Hamburg Süd will withdraw their port congestion charges for Port Botany from 15 March.

In nearly identical statements to customers, the shipping lines said the “operational situation” in Sydney is improving and vessel schedules are expected to stabilise from mid-March.

The charge withdraw will be “applicable to cargo loaded or received for shipment (in the case of FMC origin/destination) on vessels from ETD 15 March,” the statement said.

“over the past months we have been facing significant schedule disruption as a result of the Sydney congestion … we have managed multiple contingencies to continue to keep the global supply chain moving.”

In a statement, IFCBAA said the announcements provides industry with “cautious optimism” that the charge would be withdrawn by other shipping lines.