By Mcanthony Onuoha
Importers and Shippers have continued to express their appreciation to the Nigerian Shippers Council following the recent declaration it made on indiscriminate transfer of containers by Shipping Companies and Seaport Terminal Operators, without the consent of their owners as illegal.
In a press statement issued and signed by Fwdr. High Chief Austin Azubuike Ekweozor, RFF, the CEO of G-MAYOR RESOURCES AND LINKS LTD, on behalf of importers and Shippers thanked the Nigerian Shippers Council for looking into their plights and taking a bold step to addressing the issue.
In a letter of appreciation for a bold regulatory declaration, High Chief Ekwozor, on behalf of Messrs De Skyegosons Global Ventures, Benz Solutions Enterprises, Munich Marketing Links Ventures, Metal Rolling Company,Crone Ballistic Syncro Cradle Ltd., Ramatu Models Scop Inter Biz Ltd., and Bolivia Unique Enterprises, who had earlier in a joint letter dated the 7th July 2020, and addressed to the Nigerian Shippers Council, expressed great concern about the huge financial burden being heaped on them and others by the illegal charges forcefully imposed on them, appreciated the NSC for its timely intervention.
The statement in the appreciation letter reads in parts, “the satisfaction that was expressed by our clients having read online, a news Piece credited to Nigerian Shippers Council prompted us to officially issue this press statement to convey our appreciation to the Executive Secretary and his Management team, we express our delight and joy for the timely and bold regulatory pronouncement it made on this critical business matter bordering on extortion and high-handedness.”
The NSC in a statement had warned the Operators to take note that,”based on international standard and recognized practice, freight paid in the country of origin covers movement of Cargo to final port of delivery or destination. It follows therefore that Cargoes earmarked for transfer to off-dock terminal, at the request of the company/ seaport terminal operators without the consent of the consignees or their authorized representatives should not attract charge(s) against the consignees. Nigerian Shippers Council considers this act as unethical and unwholesome”.
“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.”
The regulatory agency further warned in the statement that “consequently, all transfer charges collected from consignees of cargoes transferred from seaport terminals to off-dock terminals from the 1st of June,2020 till date,at the instance of the shipping companies/agencies, seaport terminal operators or off-dock terminals operators, without the consignees requesting for such transfer, must be refunded to the consignees immediately. Failure to refund such charges will lead to the Council invoking it’s regulatory powers to enforce compliance”, the statement read .
Considering their bitter experiences, the concerned importers and shippers urged the Nigerian Shippers Council to go beyond pronouncement and effectively enforce its orders to the fullest as it would go a long way to engender sanity in the system and also make the agency to always gain their(importers/shippers) confidence and trust.
High Chief Ekweozor, on behalf of importers and Shippers, however beckoned on the Nigerian Shippers Council to open up Shippers Collaboration Forum in all the international markets to engender rich operational dialogues, promising to work closely with the Council, especially towards the direction of achieving regulatory goals.
He said “we once again wish to say a big thank you in appreciation for your bold regulatory pronouncement, and since regulatory implementation and compliance require collective efforts in achieving them, we reassure the Council of our readiness to work with the Management as to be on the same page with other countries of the world by competently and transparently carrying out best international practices in the Nigerian Maritime industry.”
