ARBITRARY CHARGES : Shippers Council Threatens To Invoke Regulatory Powers On Port Service Providers

Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has threatened to invoke its regulatory powers to enforce compliance on port concessionaires, bonded terminal operators and shipping line agencies over arbitrary charges.

Rakiya Zubairu, Head of Public Relations , NSC disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos.

Zubairu noted that the Council considered this act as unethical and unwholesome noting that based on international standard and recognised practice, freight paid at origin covers movement of cargo to final port of delivery at destination.

She stressed that cargoes earmarked for transfer to off-dock terminals, at the request of the shipping company, seaport terminal operator or off-dock terminal, without the consent of the consignees or their authorized representatives, should not attract charge(s) against the consignees.

The statement added that :”Nigerian Shippers’ Council has been inundated with complaints against shipping companies/agencies, seaport terminal operators and off-dock terminals on the arbitrary levy of container demurrage, storage and transfer charges on innocent consignees, for transportation of cargoes to off-dock terminals unilaterally initiated by terminals without the consignees’ consent.

“Accordingly, Nigerian Shippers’ Council has resolved that all service providers must be guided as follows: 1. Import cargoes should be delivered to the nominated port of destination as stated in the Bill of Lading .

“2. Where the operational convenience of the seaport terminals or some other prevailing circumstances necessitate the transfer of cargoes from the seaport terminals to off-dock terminals, the concerned consignees or their authorized agents must be notified in good time, and must not be charged the cost associated with such transfer, including barging cost;

“3. Storage and demurrage charges on cargoes earmarked for transfer from seaport terminals to off-dock terminals, without the consent of the consignee, should take effect only after arriving at the designated off-dock terminals.

“Consequently, all transfer charges collected from consignees of cargoes transferred from seaport terminals to off-dock terminals, from 1st June 2020 to date, at the instance of the shipping companies/agencies, seaport terminal operators or off-dock terminal operators, without the consignees requesting for such transfer, must be refunded to the consignees immediately.”

By Roland Ekama