The chairman of the Intra-Asia Discussion Agreement (Iada) has resigned from his post and was absent from yesterday's Tripartite Shippers' Council Meeting - stirring speculation he had been pressured to keep quiet on controversial terminal handling charges (THCs).
Ten days ago, Kenichi Kuroya confirmed he would be attending the meeting, according to Ted Kawamura, managing director of the Japan Shippers' Council. But he suddenly stepped down and called off his trip to Hong Kong, Mr Kawamura said.
'Iada's chairman was compelled to step down from his post and ... cancel his attendance at this meeting by his fellow members who are opposed to his policy of open dialogue with Asian customers,' Mr Kawamura said at the meeting yesterday.
He said Iada members disapproved of Mr Kuroya's openness policy and said their unwillingness to discuss the THCs showed their lack of respect towards Asian shipping organisations.
THCs are set by shipping lines in a 'cost-recovery' mechanism for the charges they incur - including container-handling charges, buoyage, towage and pilotage fees - while calling at ports.
Shippers and port operators have long urged greater transparency on how the charges are determined, but liners are reluctant to disclose the charge components, saying they involved commercially sensitive contracts signed with both parties.
Willy Lin Suen-mo, chairman of the Hong Kong Shippers' Council, said he was disappointed by Mr Kuroya's absence.