Customs ponders industry solution to scanner issues

Industry believes it has
come up with a viable
solution to the challenges
around the R38-million
cargo scanner at the Port of
Cape Town.
Introduced by customs
in May, the new scanner
was set to introduce
faster turn-around times
on stopped containers,
ensuring far more efficient
movement of cargo and
translating into massive
savings for industry. But
the exact opposite has been
experienced.
Since the introduction
of the scanner some two
months ago the cost of a
stopped container can now
be as much as R10 000
while it is seemingly taking
far longer than was ever
the case when containers
were taken to a depot for
physical searches. This
is despite the fact that
containers can now be
released at the scanner.
“It is not a more efficient
and cost effective service
compared with what we
had in the past. Import
containers
remain under
control of the
shipping line
that carries
them to the
scanner
and this
comes at
an increased
cost,” said a
source. “Once
released at the
scanner there is
no other option but to
use carrier haulage to
final destination which is
also more costly. When a
physical search is called
for the container has to be
taken to a depot where in
the past it was already at
the depot. It’s all double
handling and so the costs
have increased.”
Industry stalwart
Mike Walwyn told FTW
they had been receiving
a sympathetic ear from
customs and efforts were
being made by all parties
involved to address the
challenges.
“Industry has made a
proposal that could solve
some of the challenges – that
the containers be moved
from the stack to the scanner
and then back to the stack
by Transnet Port Terminals
(TPT). It makes sense for
TPT to do the handling and
it would address many of the
challenges that have been
experienced.”
There are no issues
around the legality of this
as shipping lines are legally
in control of containers
until customs release
because customs legislation
makes provision for TPT
to move containers within
the terminal prior to their
release. With
the scanner
being in the
terminal it
becomes a legal
option.
Customs is believed
to be giving the proposal
attention and has met
with industry several
times in the past few
weeks in an effort to
address the concerns.
“They are working
very closely with
industry around this
matter,” said Walwyn.