Early document submission will prevent Easter delays

ALAN PEAT ALTHOUGH HAPPY holiday times are just around the corner, it could also herald cargo congestion around the country, according to Jeff Epstein, senior freight auditor with forwarders, Safcor Panalpina. This year, the Easter weekend is from Friday, April 14 to Monday, April 17 – and followed just 10 days later by the Freedom Day/Workers’ Day weekend from Thursday, April 27 to Monday, May 1. “During this period backlogs are likely to develop at all ports and airports in terms of both customs clearance procedures and the physical handling of cargo,” Epstein said. “Transport delays may also occur, particularly on main holiday routes, where traffic authorities may order heavy vehicles off the road during peak traffic flow periods.” To help forwarders to overcome the problem, Epstein urges shippers and importers to ensure that documents and clearing instructions are submitted as far in advance of vessels’ arrivals as possible - but suggests that no later than five full working days prior to ship’s scheduled arrival date should be the cut-off point.