Priok port wants to set new levies<\/p>\n
By Prapti Widinugraheni<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Users of Jakarta's Tanjung Priok port have
\nprotested against the management's plans to collect levies for
\nthe operation of new barge cranes, saying they cannot afford to
\npay more fees on top of those already imposed by the port.<\/p>\n
T. Tadano, the chairman of the Intra Asia Discussion
\nAgreement, said here yesterday that executives of state-owned PT
\nPelabuhan Indonesia II, which manages the port, had proposed to
\ncharge port users an additional US$26.30 per box to finance the
\nnew barge cranes which are expected to arrive here later this
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
"If the port management wants to use barge cranes to increase
\nproductivity, that's up to them, but they cannot ask private
\ncompanies to pay for this. They must do so themselves," he said.<\/p>\n
"But there has been no final word on this and the port's
\nmanagement and users are still negotiating," he told The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
Tadano said that after port users unanimously refused to pay
\nthe additional levies last month, the port management proposed
\nestablished a small committee consisting of representatives of
\ndomestic and foreign shipping lines as well as national importers
\nand shippers to discuss the issue.<\/p>\n
However, he doubted the discussions would be productive if it
\nwas only aimed at reaching an agreement on a certain amount of
\nfees.<\/p>\n
"It will be difficult for our customers to understand the need
\nfor these additional fees. So if that is all that the committee
\nwill discuss, I don't think it will be very useful... But we are
\nopen to talk about any other ideas on how to increase port
\nproductivity," he said.<\/p>\n
Tadano said Pelabuhan II currently imposes a container
\nhandling charge of $62 per 20-feet full-container load and $93
\nfor a 40-feet load. The proposed additional charge of $26.30
\nwould be the same for both container sizes.<\/p>\n
He said that Pelabuhan II had originally planned to start
\nimposing the additional levies in August.<\/p>\n
Barens Saragih, Secretary General of the Indonesian National
\nShip-owners' Association also considered it would not be fair to
\nput additional burdens on users. "We are already suffering losses
\nfrom the lengthy wait we have to put up with," he told the Post.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that presently only six of the port's eight
\ncranes were operating properly.<\/p>\n
Pelabuhan II was blasted by port users last year for its
\ninefficient management which led to prolonged waiting times for
\nships.<\/p>\n
Foreign shipping lines, which had threatened to impose a
\n"Jakarta Port Congestion Surcharge", agreed to postpone the
\nsurcharge after the port's managers promised to launch a crash
\nprogram to improve port services.<\/p>\n
Since then, the government has repeatedly claimed that the
\nport has improved efficiency and cut back the average waiting
\ntime of ships.<\/p>\n
Port users, however, still consider the improvements
\ninsignificant, and are urging more serious efforts to boost the
\nport's productivity.<\/p>\n
Tadano, who is also the chairman of the Overseas Ship owners'
\nRepresentative Association, said yesterday that port users have
\nno intention of imposing a port congestion surcharge on Tanjung
\nPriok. "But we might consider doing so if things stay the same,"
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for Pelabuhan II, Henry, confirmed yesterday that
\ntwo new cranes would be arriving at Pelabuhan II's container
\nterminal this month.<\/p>\n
He refused to disclose how this would be financed, but claimed
\nthat private companies had offered to participate in financing
\nthe equipment.<\/p>\n
"The Minister of Transportation has also offered private firms
\nand investors the chance to contribute funds, because it is
\nalmost impossible for Pelabuhan II or the government to finance
\nit themselves," he told the Post.<\/p>\n
He added that many firms had expressed their interest, "but
\nnothing has been finalized yet".<\/p>\n
Henry rejected reports saying that foreign shipping lines are
\nconsidering imposing a port surcharge on Tanjung Priok. However,
\nhe conceded that port users often complained about the slow
\noperation of the port's cranes during their regular meetings with
\nthe port management.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/priok-port-wants-to-set-new-levies-1447893297",
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