New rates target late clearance of containers

ALAN PEAT THERE WILL be no cheap storage any more at the Durban container terminal (DCT) as SA Port Operations (Sapo) dramatically increases the rates. It’s an effort to discourage the late clearance of containers, said Kevin Martin, vice-chairman of the Durban harbour carriers' division of the SA Association for Freight Forewarders (Saaff), and to prevent the terminal becoming clogged by those using the facility for cheap storage. The level of the new charges, he added, is sufficiently high to justify cargo owners who can’t collect their boxes within New rates target late clearance of containers No more cheap storage as rates rise. the time-frame having them hauled to a private depot for storage. And, despite the on-going battle between the shipping lines and the clearing and forwarding industry about who’s to blame – with lines blaming c&f operators and vice-versa – it’s only a few rogues who are still gumming up the system, according to Martin. He reckoned that more than 95% of the containers at the DCT were moved expeditiously. “It’s only these few percent who can’t do their jobs properly,” he said, “and road transporters, shipping lines and c&f agents all take the standpoint that these few deserve to be hit by these penalties.” 20’ 40’ 45’ 1-3 days FREE FREE FREE Day 4 R 491 R 982 R1472 Day 5 R 800 R1600 R2400 Day 6+ R1300 R2600 R3900