MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is now the fourth shipowner since May -- and the second today -- to announce plans to impose a fuel surcharge onto customers come 2020.

"MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA's operating costs are expected to increase significantly as we continue to prepare for the 2020 low-Sulphur fuel regime," the company said today.

"We are therefore introducing a new global fuel surcharge as of 1 January 2019 in order to help customers plan for the impact of the post-2020 fuel regime."