News
Lack of coordinated checks hamper cargo clearing efficiency
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
The reputation of Colombo port as “the major shipping hub in Asia” as well as the good image is at risk, due to knee-jerk reactions on port congestion in Colombo.
Delays are not unusual, but this week, suspicions were raised about hundreds of unchecked containers that were released amid the congestion.
Roshan Masakorala, the chief executive officer of the Shippers’ Academy Colombo, said reacting instead of taking measures to resolve the issue is giving the wrong and negative messages to the world.
Claims and counter claims regarding container congestion . Pic by Akila Jayawardena
“The country’s as well as a major shipping port’s reputation is at stake, there should be some damage control when the matter gains adverse publicity. Meanwhile, action must be taken to resolve the issues.’’
Mr Masakorala said there are vested interests involved in clearance of containers and cargo as well as the internal rifts.
According to him, many factors contribute to congestion from the moment the ships berth — limited space and facilities, delays of unloading, congestion in terminals, lack of customs officers and proper process within customs and importers, and wharf clerks’ issues related to container transport. There is no single entity or cause responsible for the delays.
However, customs has a major responsibility in supporting the supply chain facilitation which is lacking, Mr Masakorala said.
Admitting there are issues without taking measures to correct them as well as politicising problems, are not the way forward as the wrong message communicated internationally lead to degrading the positions in different indexes which measure the status of the Colombo port, known as one of the most efficient ports in South Asia and strategically located.
The delays in clearing of containers from port and customs created a multitude of issues which are interconnected — ships bypassing Colombo port, demurrage for ships and containers, container driver issues, road congestion, and problems of wharf offices.
The Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents had written to the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Bimal Ratnayake, saying that both they and members of Sri Lanka Association of Vessel operators have reported that vessels have bypassed Colombo.
They reasoned that non-availability of berths, congestion within terminals, lack of trucks to transport consignments in port and outside as well as other competing ports being ready to accept vessels, caused ships to bypass.
Thirty ships had bypassed Colombo port and of them, 24 ships belong to one shipping company.
Some vessels offloaded only the laden and transshipment boxes and reached Vizhinjam port in Kerala, India to avoid further delay.
One letter sent by agents to a shipping company even wrote to customs that its head office in Geneva had instructed a vessel to skip Colombo due to berthing delay.
The Secretary General of the Association Container Transporters, Nimal Amarasekara told the Sunday Times that the Colombo port congestion as well as overcrowding at customs inspection points remains unchanged.
Mr Amarasekara said that the customs should speed up inspections under strict conditions by expanding their inspection points and setting up other state institute offices such as SLSI, Animal and Plant Quarantine and Food Control in one place.
Customs as well as the government have been asked to use private container yards. “We request the government to call retired officers to fill the vacancies in customs.”
Also, container drivers complained about the lack of toilets and food while they waited in queues.
And wharf clerks complain that even though customs says they are working 24 hours, it does not happen as work slows down during midnight.
The delays incur demurrage and taxes.
Customs House Agents suspect customs is deliberately prolonging the delays. They added that a rift had been created between the union and customs administration and that is also adding to delays.
They claimed that the space issue and the gradual increase in imports after the government removed restrictions remained, yet the slowing down of inspections occurred after customs took a stance on eliminating fraud within customs and directives issued for stricter inspections.
The scanning machine is meant to speed up inspections but now the customs is calling for physical checks as they can earn incentive money.
Customs officers union vice president Dasun Dilhara said that a complaint has been lodged with the CID seeking an investigation on ships bypassing Colombo port. The union had asked the harbour master about this and learned that it had not occurred.
Customs had cleared 323 containers tagged in red and amber, indicating to be cleared only after scanning, on the grounds that it was required to reduce the congestion. The union suspects that the congestion is left to persist so that containers that need to be strictly inspected can be cleared without inspection on the grounds of reducing overcrowding.
Mr Dilhara said outdated scanners only give an outline of the items and physical checks are needed.
He claimed that officers alone should not be blamed as they work around the clock, yet wharf clerks and other state institute officials should do so as well.
However, the shipping agent’s counter claimed that the harbour master is unaware of bypassing ships. It is customs officers who slow down work after midnight, they said.
The customs media spokesman Seevali Arukgoda said that there were 2,724 containers in port to be cleared as of 9:20 am on Friday. Of the 2,000-3,000 containers that arrive daily, 60% are cleared without checking.
The remainder needs to be checked but they only have the capacity to clear 400 daily. He said due to a shortage of 700 officers they are unable to deploy officers on a shift basis round the clock.
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