TTMA sends out SOS to port CEOs

Already reeling from increased shipping costs, local manufacturers are sending out an SOS to CEOs at the country’s ports to find a way to absorb them. Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturing Association (TTMA), in a press statement yesterday, said that both the Association of West India Trans Atlantic Steam Ship Lines (WITASS) and Europe West Indies Line (EWL) have sent out notices of their intention to implement congestion surcharges later this month, for 20 and 40-foot containers.

As a result, the TTMA is calling on the Shipping Association of TT and CEOs at both Point Lisas and Port Authority of TT to either negotiate the removal of these charges, or absorb them. These charges, said the TTMA, range from (US)$65 to (US)$140 and are entirely “due to congestion at these ports that have caused severe disruption to schedules and resulted in considerable extra costs.” TTMA president Anthony Aboud said yet another penalty has been imposed on importers and exporters; something, he added, that they cannot control or be held accountable for. The TTMA said it is disgusted with all the shipping charges and increases imposed within the last 14 months.

These range from local administrative charges, bunker surcharges, handling charges, security surcharges, terminal handling charges and general rate increases. These costs, said the TTMS have simply been passed on, noting that the shipping lines and their agents absorb little, if any, of these costs directly. The TTMA said it is confident that having met last month with the Prime Minister and Port Authority Chairman, Noel Garcia, it remains confident that the commitment made at the meeting will alleviate much of the congestion in early 2005.