Forget the hidden agendas and negotiate!

"GET THE politics out of the freight industry - and get some professionalism back into running the ports and shipping lines." That's the viewpoint of Tim Driman, m.d. of the Durban-based TLD Group, after he has watched what he describes as "this debacle rambling on over the weeks" and eventually leading to the shipping lines' proposal of a punitive port congestion surcharge of US$75 per container travelling through the Port of Durban. "Let's get some honesty and morality into the freight industry," he told FTW, questioning at the same time whether this is not an oxymoron. "Bring the active parties together, and negotiate honestly without hidden agendas." The problems are nothing new, according to Driman. The freight industry has had difficult periods over the years, but somehow the problems have been resolved because all parties came together and negotiated. "There was always give-and-take from all sides." Given this, and the currently poor state-of-play at Durban harbour, Driman asked why Portnet could not "acknowledge that they have allowed their equipment to fall into the most appalling state of disrepair". At the same time, Driman did nothing to excuse the shipping lines and ship's agents from a similar tongue-lashing. "Are you not tired of the agents and Portnet ducking the issue by telling the clearing and forwarding agents and hauliers that they are not their clients - and conveniently ducking their contractual obligations in terms of the law? "Are you not tired of the local shipping lines telling the public that their principals are threatening to impose surcharges because of all the other links in the freight chain causing their delays? And so on, and so on." But probably Driman's most disturbing question relates to the current state-of-play in freight rates. "Did you know that the lines have started reducing the freight rates by up to US$200 per TEU (twenty foot equivalent unit) for cargo coming into SA? How can they do this in all honesty whilst threatening the public with a US$75 congestion surcharge? "Yet there are new competitors entering the arena every week and offering to cut these very same rates!"