Sapo’s elevated storage charges draw generally favourable response

ALAN PEAT RECENT MOVES by SA Port Operations to impose tougher measures on import containers overstaying their welcome at the terminal have raised a few questions. From November 6, Sapo changed its storage tariff – now allowing the first three days free, then slapping on significant penalty charges thereafter. Hauliers have no complaint about the storage ruling, according to Kevin Martin of Freightliner and vice chairman of the Durban harbour carriers' association – who suggested they had the resources to meet the needs. But he pointed out three trains of thought in the freight industry. The first was that Sapo had still not confirmed just how long the new ruling would last. No indication whether it was short-term to overcome the present congestion problems or whether it would remain – an unfair enrichment of Sapo in the latter case. Second were on-going accusations that forwarders were just too slow in processing the necessary paperwork for moving the containers. Martin suggested that it might be better to impose the penalty charges on those whose paper processing was tardy. The third was that Sapo was also aiming at eliminating those who saw the current tariff regime as providing cheap storage at the terminal. “A lot of people are processing the paperwork in time,” said Martin, “but are finding it cheap enough to leave their containers for days four and five before having them actually shifted. “That’s ruled out under the present system.” The shipping lines, however, are satisfied that the ruling would encourage people to move containers timeously, and help to reduce congestion delays at the DCT. Said Dave Rennie, director in charge of Grindrod Freight Services and chairman of the Container Liner Operators' Firum (Clof): “It ensures that all the users are playing their part. “The terminal must not be seen as a convenient storage area. If cargo is left there it just helps to jam up the works.” Despite some effort, FTW was unable to get any official comment from the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) – neither on the slow paper processing challenge, nor the impression of the new ruling. But it is believed that the forwarding industry has no objection to the idea of faster movement of import containers, although they may have some reservations about just how Sapo has decided to resolve the problem of overstay.