The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), has instructed shipping lines operating at the country’s sea ports to withdraw newly advertised increments in shipping charges.
The statutory body, mandated by law to regulate shipping charges in a letter to the various shipping lines operating at the nation’s ports, stated it disagrees with the exclusion of the Port Additional Surcharge (PAS) from total freight cost and collection as a local charge.
The regulatory body, noting that while it is not against cost recovery by the shipping lines through the increment of service charges occasioned by additional tariffs imposed on shipping lines by the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA), such charges should be factored into freight costs.
“As you are aware, the freight charge is inclusive of costs incurred at the ports such as berthing fees, pilotage, mooring, stevedoring charges etc. therefore any hikes in these charges should be recovered by an adjustment to the freight,” said the GSA in the letter to shipping lines.
“The Authority is in principle not against cost recovery, seeing as the subject borders on commercial matters, however, it wishes to unequivocally state its disagreement with the imposition of the PAS as a local charge,” it added.
“We are therefore by this communication requesting for the withdrawal of these charges that have been advertised to be paid locally,” the GSA further stated.
The new port tariffs charged shipping lines according to General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Affairs of the GPHA, Mrs Esther Gyebi-Donkor, cumulatively amounts to $35.
The charges include port dues ($10 increase), stevedoring ($15 increase), cranage ($5 increase), and empty containers ($5 increase) reflecting a 14.5 per cent increment in current charges.
But as argued by the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) and the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, charges by the shipping lines have been increased by more than 100 per cent.
According to the Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, shipping charges from companies like PIL which is currently $77 will now be $132, Maersk Line is currently $61 and will be $125, MSC is currently $65 and it will move to $120 and Grimaldi’s charges will move from $55 to $155.
Read below details of GSA’s letter to Shipping Lines
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