Feeder lines have called on global carriers to pass on some of the bunker surcharge revenue being squeezed out of shippers or risk service levels deteriorating.

Lines have come under heavy fire from shippers over the surcharges, and one leading intra-Asia feeder company told IFW that, despite a series of them imposed on shippers in Asia, most carriers had refused to compensate feeder operators for rising fuel costs.

"We are having trouble getting these bunker surcharges passed on," said Dhrubajyoti Das, executive director of intra-Asia specialist Samudera Shipping Line.

"We only want a small amount to cover rising costs. Now the main line operators [MLOs] are in better financial health, we are just asking them to share a little, so we can keep services up. "