Shippers disagree that it’s justified ALAN PEAT SENIOR MANAGEMENT of shipping lines and ships’ agents who charge the container cleaning fee seem reluctant to say much on record about the complaint from forwarders that this charge is made whether or not the container is cleaned. Indeed, forwarders have added, this cleaning fee is charged even before the container is returned – and therefore certainly before any cleaning might need to be done. This whole contentious issue was raised in FTW in December, when major forwarder, Röhlig Grindrod – which had taken legal advice on the matter – decided to threaten lines and ships’ agents with a refusal to pay the fee this year. And, in a letter to seven major shipping lines and ships’ agents, it also retained its right to take legal action to get release of the cargo if the line/agent refused to let cargo through unless the fee was paid. But the replies to FTW have been sparse, with only two line or ships’ agency executives prepared to say anything on record – or be named in their replies. Flemming Dalgaard, MD of Maersk Sealand - and also speaking on behalf of AP Møller Group sister line Safmarine – said the lines felt the charge was justified. “We like to pride ourselves on having the best equipment available for our customers,” he said. “All containers are swept and/or washed regardless.” It’s part of their agreement with their customers, Dalgaard added, and therefore they must pay for it. If the customer decides not to pay, he must evaluate if the line’s service is not worth the money. “Nobody can refuse to pay a charge,” said Dalgaard. “However, they can choose not to do business with us.” According to Laurie Smith, MD of Rennies Ships Agency, his company charges for container cleaning when its principals request this. “The onus is on shippers to return containers in a clean condition,” he said, “and charges are raised when a container needs to be cleaned.” He also stated he was not in dispute with Röhlig Grindrod, which had told FTW earlier that it had not yet failed to pay the container cleaning fees this year. “But we are doing this under protest,” said Denver Wright, Durban-based head of the company’s seafreight division, “and still registering a complaint that this fee is not legal unless cleaning is validated by the depot concerned and is agreed to by ourselves and/or clients in writing.” An unnamed agent’s executive told FTW that he had nothing more to say except that he was discussing the matter with his principal, while a fourth said that – although they charged the container cleaning fee - “this does not cover our total cleaning cost for the year“. Wright added that he had had three responses to his seven letters of protest, and all supported the charging of the fee. It remains an unsolved matter of contention between the forwarding industry and those shipping lines which insist on this general charge. Efforts to initiate talks between the parties concerned have so far failed.
