Portnet changes reefer storage levies

REEFER CONTAINER stays at the Port of Durban are becoming more expensive - and watch out for "free days" now including weekends and holidays. Portnet has changed the basis against which storage will be levied on refrigerated containers left uncleared in the Durban container terminal. In future, the 3-day "free period" allowed before collection will include weekends and holidays. The nasty in this is that, if a ship completes discharge on a Thursday, for example, the three "free" days will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday - and not Thursday, Friday and Monday as before. There has also been a revision of the storage charges. These rates now rise incrementally for each additional three-day period for which containers are left at the terminal. The maximum rate is reached 16-days after the vessel completes discharge. For 12m reefers the maximum rate levels off at R2 079 per container per day, and for 6m boxes at R1 386.