Monday, April 8, 2002
Re: ALAMEDA CORRIDOR CHARGE

Dear NASA Member:

The following text is taken directly from a memo recently sent out by a steamship line. It is representative of what the lines are implementing for cargo passing through (Eastbound or Westbound) the Southern California ports. In all likelihood this charge will be unavoidable. We are currently negotiating with the steamship lines, but as of right now this charge should be expected on your cargo traveling through Southern California as of April 15, 2002.

“…Please see the below information concerning the upcoming Alameda Corridor Charge.

The ports and rails that serve the Southern California area have over the past few years constructed a rail link between the ports and the rail connection point so as to provide more efficient transit of ocean containers and to reduce the congestion in the Southern California area. The project has been know as the Alameda Corridor Project and it is coming upon completion and will be put into use by the rails very shortly.

In an effort to pay for the construction of the Corridor, the rails have notified the steamship carriers that as of April 15 2002 they will begin to charge all equipment that moves through the Southern California area either E/B or W/B on a rail connection. The carriers in turn are
filing in their tariffs a rule so that we can pass this charge onto our customers. The filings have been made in our tariffs for effective date of April 15 2002.

Following is the wording of our E/B filing. The W/B filing is only different in it's reference to the direction of the cargo. The amounts are the same as the below filing. This will apply to all tariff and service contract cargo. This applies to all carriers over the Southern California ports.

Rule & Charge:

In order to recover amounts paid to railroads in connection with the railroads' agreements with the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority to assist in recovering the costs of constructing and operating the Alameda Corridor, all cargo moving through the ports of Los Angeles or Long Beach that is transported by rail through or into Southern California (i.e. the counties of Kern, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, and Imperial), whether or not actually carried over the Alameda Corridor, shall be subject to a charge in the following amounts:

     Per 20-foot container (20')          - US$ 15.00
     Per 40-foot container (40' x 8'6") - US$ 30.00
     Per 40-foot container (40' x 9'6") - US$ 30.00
     Per 45-foot container (45')          - US$ 34.00

This charge will be included on the bill of lading and will be paid by the cargo interest before release of the cargo to the consignee.

It is important that our customers understand that the charge is equal to the amount that the rail is charging us as a carrier. This is a "pass through" charge with no benefit to the carrier…”

We will keep you advised as the situation changes. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us directly. Thank you for your continued support of the North American Shippers Association.

Regards,
Judy Mannix-Administrator
North American Shippers Association Inc.