The Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA), Ms. Martida Parker and the Chairman of the Board of Directors have differed over the US$1.7 million concession agreement for the reconstruction and modernization of the Free Port of Monrovia for a period of twenty Five years.
The Government of Liberia and APM Terminal signed a US$1.7 million agreement for the reconstruction and modernization of the Free Port of Monrovia for a period of twenty Five years.
Addressing a recent public hearing at the joint hearing of the House and the Senate’s Contract and Monopoly, State Enterprise, Public Procurement and Concession and Judiciary Committees, Madam Parker said the status of employees of NPA is not defined under the concession.
She said although the contract provides US$2 million to cover employees’ benefit, it did not address job security for employees and failed to clearly state whether the employees will be retained on the job after APM Terminal takes over port .
She furthered that the US$2m in the agreement for employees are insufficient to cover benefits, severance package and other benefits for workers.
Madam Parker also wants portion of the agreement that gives the concessionaire thirty-mile radius in the concession area to be removed as it stands to jeopardize national security. She noted that the inclusion of Marine Service in the concession also poses grave security concerns for the nation.
Madam Parker said though she was left out during the signing ceremony, she wants changes be made to protect the country’s interest.
For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Maritime Commissioner, Beyan Kesseley differed with Madam Parker’s claims. He said the thirty-mile radius exclusivity does not have negative security impact on the country, but affords the concessionaire the opportunity to have a secure environment to carry on its investment.
On the issue of job security, Commissioner Kesseley assured that the interest of employees will not be compromise, but wants Liberians to welcome the agreement in the interest of the country
Indian Shippers Battle Maersk, Safmarine Over Exclusivity Deal
Indian shippers are up in arms over allegations that Maersk Line and Safmarine have signed a two-year exclusivity deal that forces them to use container facilities at Gujarat Pipavav Port (GPPL), which is operated by and part-owned by associated company AP Moller Terminals and which shippers claim is more expensive.
According to the secretary of the Western India Shippers Association, SRL Narasimhan, the arrangement forces shippers to use GPPL even though it is more expensive than rival container facilities and leaves them at a competitive disadvantage.
“Any type of exclusivity is anti-competitive in spirit and nature,” he told IFW. “It will compel exporters and importers to ship their cargo through Pipavav if they are carried on Maersk or Safmarine vessels, rather than through the cheapest port of their choice.”
Shippers also complain that Maersk Line raised its terminal handling charge (THC) at GPPL on 1 September.
The paper approached the two shipping lines but neither would comment on the exclusivity deal or the THC.
“We take all claims of anti-competitive behaviour very seriously and will look into whether there is any substance to these accusations,” said each line in a statement to IFW.
The Gujarat Maritime Board, which monitors privatised ports, confirmed that a number of complaints had been received and said that such a shipping deal would amount to unfair practice. Source – IFW
Tanzania Lobbies Uganda Over Use of Dar Es Salaam Port
Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) has urged businessmen in Uganda to consider using the Central Corridor through Dar es Salaam Port as an alternative to the now crowded Mombasa Port.
Speaking at the opening of a three-day campaign aimed at luring Ugandan businessmen to use the route Mr Flavian Kinunda, TPA’s director of marketing, said: "We are here to negotiate with the importers and exporters to use the Central Corridor because the route’s infrastructure has been improved."
The 1800 kilometre route from Dar es Salaam to Kampala via Mutukula has been upgraded to tarmac and it is increasingly registering more traffic with transit days reducing from 29 to 4 days.
Alcuthough the roads have been improved, only 5 per cent of Uganda’s Seaborne traffic worth 4 million tones passes through the route. In the past, Uganda’s cargo used to go through Dar es Salaam Port via Mwanza railway, however, after the collapse of the railway links, many businessmen diverted cargo to the Northern Corridor via Mombasa.
It was not until 2007 post-election violence in Kenya, which cut off Kampala from Mombasa; that this route was considered as an alternative. However, with the increasing growth among the East African member states, which has seen import figures grow, the Mombasa port has become congested thus a quest for an alternative has set in among businessmen who have to wait for at least two moths to clear their goods at the port.
Philippine Court Orders Company To Sell Vessel Offset Debt
The Philippines’ Trial Court of Pasig has ordered Malaysian Merchant Marine (MMM) to sell its vessel, ‘Ashton’, in order to settle a debt of US$900,070.
MMM owes the amount to a Philippines creditor.
In a statement to the Malaysian Bourse, MMM has said it had used the credit facility to repay general overheads, such as crew salaries and staffing costs.
“Despite several reminders, the company (MMM) was still not in a position to repay these advances,” said MMM in the statement.
“With the court ordered disposal of MT ‘Ashton’ and the seizure (by the bondholder) of the company’s other two vessels – MT ‘Dayton’ and MT ‘Kingston’ – the company does not possess any more assets. The board confirms that the company is in a status of PN 1 and PN 17”.
NYK Line Changes Name
NYK Line Japan has announced that it is changing its name to NYK Container Line Ltd with the transfer of business from Tokyo Senpaku Kaisha (TSK Line) to Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha.
TSK’s intra-Asian liner business will be transferred to Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha from 1 November 2010 and all TSK staff members will be moved to NYK Line Japan, which is in charge of NYK’s liner service operations and related business in Japan. Taking this opportunity, the company says that NYK Line Japan will change its name and continue its efforts to better its service.
NYK Container Line says it will provide an enhanced container service by using TSK’s know-how in intra-Asia containership operations and logistics designs. In addition, “NYK Container Line will strengthen its cooperation with other NYK Group companies and restart as a company capable of meeting the various logistics needs of customers by providing services that extend beyond port to port.
“NYK Container Line will provide a higher quality and more competitive service under its new organization and new company name,” says the statement issued on Tuesday.
15 Fishermen feared Dead as Boats Capsize off Mozambique
According to Mozambican authorities, five fishing boats have capsized in heavy seas off the country’s central coast, and at least 15 fishermen are feared dead.
A spokesman for the Zambezia provincial authorities said the fishermen ignored storm warnings from the weather service and went to sea on Saturday night. Of the total of 20 fishermen five have been rescued but the others are feared to have drowned.
MSC Charters Maersk Ships
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has chartered four laid up Maersk ships which will be deployed on MSC’s Cheetah Service between South Africa and the Far East, where they will operate in direct competition with Maersk and Safmarine’s Safari Service.
The four sister ships, which are well-known on the South Africa service, are among the fastest container ships in service with speeds of 30 knots. They have been taken on 12- month charters. The four ships are: MAERSK BEAUMONT, MAERSK BOSTON, MAERSK BENTONVILLE, and MAERSK BROOKLYN Each vessel is 48,853-gt and were built between 2006 and 2007.
Discussion about this post