Press Center | Freight Shipping Logistics News
Sep 8, 2014
General
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Goods imported through the Mombasa Port may become more expensive after ships threatened to impose a charge over frequent delays at the facility.
Goods imported through the Mombasa Port may become more expensive after ships threatened to impose a charge over frequent delays at the facility.
Shipping lines said the vessel delay surcharge (VDS) on cargo offloaded at the port will be charged due to delays to allocate vessel berths in the last one month.
Shipping lines normally impose a VDS on containers arriving at a sea port deemed inefficient at the rate of between US$200 (Sh17,200) and US$300 (Sh25,800) each depending on the size and extent of delays, making goods imported through it expensive.
In a letter to Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) managing director Gichiri Ndua, Kenya Ships Agents Association (KSAA) chairman David Mackay expressed concern over the delays, saying the authority had failed to address the problem even after they complained.
The letter is copied to Kenya Maritime Authority director-general Nancy Karigithu and Transport and Infrastructure Principal Secretary Nduva Muli.
“They are in the process of starting the introduction of vessel delay surcharges at the Mombasa port,” Mr Mackay said.
And on Monday, KSAA executive officer Juma Tellah said the association wrote the letter because the management ignored their concerns.
However, Captain Khamis Twalib, the manager in charge of operations at KPA, said the situation did not warrant such a punitive surcharge. “There are only three ships waiting and we expect them to berth either today or tomorrow,” he said
Shipping lines said the vessel delay surcharge (VDS) on cargo offloaded at the port will be charged due to delays to allocate vessel berths in the last one month.
Shipping lines normally impose a VDS on containers arriving at a sea port deemed inefficient at the rate of between US$200 (Sh17,200) and US$300 (Sh25,800) each depending on the size and extent of delays, making goods imported through it expensive.
In a letter to Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) managing director Gichiri Ndua, Kenya Ships Agents Association (KSAA) chairman David Mackay expressed concern over the delays, saying the authority had failed to address the problem even after they complained.
The letter is copied to Kenya Maritime Authority director-general Nancy Karigithu and Transport and Infrastructure Principal Secretary Nduva Muli.
“They are in the process of starting the introduction of vessel delay surcharges at the Mombasa port,” Mr Mackay said.
And on Monday, KSAA executive officer Juma Tellah said the association wrote the letter because the management ignored their concerns.
However, Captain Khamis Twalib, the manager in charge of operations at KPA, said the situation did not warrant such a punitive surcharge. “There are only three ships waiting and we expect them to berth either today or tomorrow,” he said
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