Shipping lines plan to impose congestion charges

The principles of all shipping lines are planning to impose congestion charges on Pakistan-origin ad Pakistan-bound import and export cargo to offset losses due to transporters strike. All Pakistan Shipping Association (APSA) called an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the challenges being faced by its member shipping lines and terminal operators in the wake of ongoing strike called by the transporters.
The participants of the meeting expressed their concerns over consequential losses and challenges being faced by the local trade and shipping fraternity in Pakistan in the wake of the strike. Asim A. Siddique, chairman of APSA presided over the meeting that attended by representatives of all major shipping lines/agents and terminal operators.
The meeting was told that all terminals at Port Qasim and Karachi Port Trust are now operating at a level of 130 percent over its operational capacity that brought these terminals' operational activities to almost standstill. Consequently, vessel operations and schedule has been severally hampered causing huge financial burden on carriers and terminals. The vessels-related business is affected badly due to disturbing schedule port charges and chartering cost.
The meeting observed that shipping companies are suffering huge losses due to severe congestion at ports due to the transporters strike. The shipping lines are forced to divert the vessels from Pakistani ports due to severe congestion, delays and low productivity. The export shipments are not arriving to the ports for loading on the vessels so getting huge revenue losses in term of freight and related charges. The vessels' delays at berth are increasing port and other charges. The shipping companies are experiencing heavy revenue losses. The principles are seriously thinking to implement congestion charges due to serious delays at Pakistan ports to recover the recent losses.
The meeting observed that the situation is not in the interest of local trade in general and of Pakistan economy in particular. APSA urged the relevant authorities at the federal and provincial level to resolve the issue on war footing basis as the month of Ramadan is approaching fast that would make thing worst due to short working hours. APSA urged the federal and provincial governments to take immediate measures and address the matter on urgent basis.