New Portnet tariffs miss February deadline

Alan Peat
PORTNET WAS yet to reveal its new tariffs as FTW went to print on Monday morning. This despite a promise by Nico Walters of the National Ports Authority that details of the new port tariffs and the unitary wharfage would be revealed by the end of February.
None of the relevant associations - shippers, shipping lines and forwarders - have heard a whisper.
The second-hand message from Walters was: ÒIt will be announced. YouÕll have to wait and see.Ó
The reason for the delay has not been confirmed although one reliable source, close to the scene of action has hinted that there is some ministerial-level dissatisfaction with the figures.
But what these figures are is not yet available.
However, from what FTW can gather - calculated against what income Portnet might want to achieve from the wharfage - it would seem that the authorities would have to be looking at a wharfage levy of about R750 for a 20-foot export container, and R1 500 for a 20-ft import box.
It can be assumed that the levy on 40-ft boxes would be double that for the 20-ft.
No guesstimates are yet forthcoming on bulk and breakbulk wharfage charges, nor on the tariff list for SA Port Operations services.