Freight forwarders operating at the Port and Terminal Multiservice Limited (PTML) have said that they are ready to engage the management of the terminal in discussion with a view to putting an end to unnecessary demurrage collected on vehicles transferred from the terminal to the PTML bonded terminal at Mile 2.
Freight forwarders operating at the Port and Terminal Multiservice Limited (PTML) have said that they are ready to engage the management of the terminal in discussion with a view to putting an end to unnecessary demurrage collected on vehicles transferred from the terminal to the PTML bonded terminal at Mile 2.
The PTML chapter Chairman of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Mr. Cosmas Ndimkora in an exclusive interview with Shipping Position Daily in his office yesterday said that the association and its sister associations will be seating with the terminal operator next week.
Ndimkora said that the fault is from the terminal operator because it does not have a big badge to transfer vehicles from its terminal to the bonded terminal at mile 2. He said that on many occasions, the terminal operators start counting demurrage on vehicles three days before they even get to the mile2 terminal which is the final destination.
“Sometimes there are delays, sometimes you might have finished your customs procedures waiting for your cargo in Mile 2, but the cargo will not be there, we met the management of PTML and they told us that it is due to their badge, that their badge takes 30 vehicles at a go, when you are carrying about 600 vehicles sometimes it takes three days”.
“People are already queuing up to carry their vehicles, but they are not there, and when you eventually carry it, it is already carrying a three days demurrage”.
He said that the association is going to pursue this problem and make sure that the terminal operators start demurrage counting from the day the cargo gets to the port of discharge which is mile2.
“We are proposing to have a meeting with Grimaldi by next week then we can make our minds known”
The NAGAFF chairman also appealed to the management of the terminal to provide toilets for freight forwarders to be able to ease themselves.
Ndimkora lamented that, “there is no designated place where freight forwarders can ease themselves, so I want to use this opportunity to beg Aspani Arusso to please give us a small toilet that somebody can be manning from morning till 6pm so that we can ease ourselves as at when due”.
He pointed out that the absence of toilets has made some truck drivers to be easing themselves around the port area thereby messing it up, he pointed out that the only toilets around the port are built inside custom offices.
“All the conveniences here are under lock and key for custom officers, sometimes you see women easing themselves on themselves, a 40year old woman cannot hold her pee for more than 30minutes” he said.
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