West Asia crisis fallout: Shipping companies start refund of extra charges to exporters
NEW DELHI: Days after a diktat by the maritime regulator against overcharging, shipping companies have started refunding additional charges to exporters.An industry executive said that some of the companies have started issuing credit notes to exporters for vessels that had reached their destination before the West Asia conflict broke out on Feb 28. “These were unjustified charges since the war surcharge had not kicked in when these ships docked,” said the executive.In its direction, invoking the provision of Merchant Shipping Act, the DG Shipping had asked the shipping lines and carriers to “adhere to fair trade practice and avoid levy of charges that may give rise to disputes within the EXIM cargo”. It had asked them to ensure that all applicable charges are communicated clearly and upfront to exporters and importers. During a meeting called by DG Shipping, exporters have said that retrospective war surcharge being levied by shipping companies, which was as much as $4,000 for perishables and $3,000 for every 40-feet container. Separately, major ports under the Central govt have taken measures to extend relief to exporters, following directions of shipping ministry.Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority has announced a waiver on charges, such as ground rent and reefer plug-in fees for stranded containers. It said all terminal operators will give full waiver on ground rent/dwell time charges from Feb 28 to March 14 for containers, which were lying inside terminals from Feb 28 or those which had entered till March 8. All terminal operators will waive 80% of reefer plug-in charges till March 14 to those stranded reefer containers, which are loaded with perishable goods, which were lying inside from Feb 28. Industry executives said banks have been advised by govt to factor in additional liquidity that exporters may require due to longer sailing time and also for goods that are stuck in transit. Other proposals are being examined by the finance ministry, IBA and RBI, executives said.
