APL Ltd. has become the first global container carrier to offer customers the option to pay for certain shipping charges on-line with a credit card.

APL is initially offering this payment option for fees related to additional container usage and storage of the customer's shipment. Called 'demurrage' fees in the industry, these fees are charged by all ocean carriers for customers using the container beyond the number of allotted days in the shipping contract. Demurrage fees are often the last fee to be paid before releasing the customers' shipment from the terminal and if they are not paid in a timely manner the shipment can be held up.

For some time, APL customers have been able to calculate their demurrage charges on-line via HomePort, APL's award winning web portal, on http://www.apl.com . This service saved customers time as all the information was at their fingertips and they did not need to make a phone call to find out what charges they had incurred.

Phillip Chin, APL's vice president for e-Commerce said that enabling credit card payments in a secure environment was the next logical step.

"It is as convenient as buying a book on-line," he said. "Plus a payment made via the Internet is immediately recognized in the system, speeding up release of the freight to the importer and streamlining pickup by the customer's trucker. It saves time for everyone and is free for APL customers."

The on-line payment capability is now available for shipments arriving at virtually all of the APL's facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and the company expects to expand the capability to other regions.

According to APL's Chin the ability to pay on-line further streamlines the customer's business processes. "It eliminates the time and expense of issuing a cheque and sending it by courier or overnight delivery to the trucker."

"In other cases, it eliminates the need for truckers to pay the demurrage on behalf of importers or brokers and then wait for reimbursement.

In addition to calculating and paying demurrage charges on-line, APL's website enables customers to review accounts-payable and accounts-receivable on-line. It also enables customers to schedule and book shipments; perform real-time, exception-based tracking; and simplify their shipment documentation processes including printing negotiable documents on-line in multiple locations.

APL provides customers around the world with container transportation services through a network combining high-quality intermodal operations with state-of-the-art information technology. APL is the container transportation arm of Singapore-based NOL Group, a global transportation and logistics company engaged in shipping and related businesses. Web site: http://www.apl.com