Draft Restrictions

Vessel Payload

To comply with safety margins in shallow waterways, ship operators must limit the amount of cargo loaded onto their vessels. When draft restrictions are active, a large container ship or dry bulk carrier might have to leave behind thousands of tons of cargo, which increases the unit cost of the remaining shipments. This reduction in load factor forces carriers to distribute their cargo across multiple smaller vessels, which raises overall transport costs for shippers.

Surcharge Application

To recover the lost revenue associated with reduced vessel payloads during low water periods, ocean carriers often introduce specific low water surcharges on affected routes. These surcharges pass the financial impact of draft restrictions directly to the cargo owners, making transport on these lanes more expensive during dry seasons. Logistics managers must monitor seasonal water levels closely to anticipate these cost increases and adjust their routing decisions accordingly.

By rerouting cargo through deeper ports or using rail alternatives, companies can avoid these seasonal surcharges, although these alternative paths may introduce longer transit times and different logistical challenges.