ANERA cancels threat on port surcharge plan

ANERA cancels threat on port surcharge plan

JAKARTA (JP): The Asia North America Eastbound Rate Agreement
(ANERA) group of shipping lines canceled yesterday its plan to
impose surcharges on users of its services at the Tanjung Priok
port due to improvements in port services and facilities.

James T.Y. Chen of the San Francisco-based ANERA told The
Jakarta Post yesterday that the group's members have experienced
better service at the Tanjung Priok port, including a reliable
berthing schedule and faster vessel turnover.

"Many things have improved. The yard has been expanded, the
stacking ground is getting bigger and customs procedures are
getting better," Chen said.

According to official data from the port, zero waiting time
for ships increased to 69 percent this month from 46 percent in
August. Waiting time of up to two hours decreased to 26 percent
this month from 44 percent in August, and waiting time between
two and eight hours fell to five percent from 10 percent.

Container handling activities have also improved to 19.7 boxes
a crane per hour this month from 18 boxes in August. Average
daily productivity increased to 2,751 boxes from 2,665 boxes.

Chen, quoting an official port report, said that the waiting
times of between two and eight hours are for vessels with no
fixed schedules or berthing contract. Vessels arriving ahead of
schedule must also wait.

Concern

Despite the improvement, Chen said ANERA is concerned about
the poor maintenance of port facilities and the below average
security in the stacking ground.

He said there have been increasing reports of theft from
containers. Although the amount theft was relatively small, it
was irritating and a serious blow to exporters and importers.

Similar cases at Guatemala's port have led ANERA to impose
container security surcharges, Chen said.

ANERA threatened last July to impose congestion surcharges if
the Tanjung Priok port management didn't ease what it called a
serious level of congestion at the port. The backlog increased
the shipping lines' costs.

The congestion surcharges would have required ship users to
pay an additional US$100 for a 20 foot container and $200 for
containers over 40 feet.

Using a "wait and see" strategy, ANERA postponed the
surcharges several times. It initially planned to impose the
decision on July 15, postponed it until Aug. 14 and then to
Oct.1.

Chen said ANERA members in Jakarta met last week to review the
efficiency program launched by the port's management, state-owned
PT Pelabuhan Indonesia II. He said most members agreed to drop
the proposed surcharges because of the many improvements at the
port. He added that ANERA head office in San Francisco endorsed
the members' recommendation.

If ANERA kept postponing the surcharge it would be "no good
for our credibility and our relations with the port management",
Chen explained.

ANERA includes American President Lines Ltd., Hapag Lloyd AG.,
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K-Line) Ltd., AP Moeller-Maersk Line,
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., Nedlloyd Linjen B.B., Neptune Orient
Ltd., Nippon Yusen Kaisha (N.Y.K.) Ltd., Orient Overseas
Container Line Inc. and Sea Land Service Inc.

Chen said ANERA controls 64 percent of containers shipped
between Jakarta and ports in the United States, Puerto Rico and
Canada. (rid)