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Port operators want security fees

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Terminal operators want security fees

Container terminal operators are determined to impose cargo security fees from next month despite a rejection of the levy in south China by many of the same shipping lines that use Hong Kong.

From Sunday, operators at Kwai Chung will charge $50 a laden box for all direct shipments outside Asia as they look to recover additional infrastructure and labour costs related to United States-led security initiatives against terrorism.

'We will proceed as scheduled even though discussions [with the lines are continuing],' a port executive said. 'They may end up being small concessions but it won't be much, perhaps something like a two-month deferral [of payment] to give the lines more time.'

A levy of 50 yuan from March 1 for all boxes except relay cargo and empties was rejected by shipping lines calling at ports in Shenzhen, with invoices returned unpaid and a demand for evidence of the terminals' security-related costs.

Like their Shenzhen counterparts, Hong Kong operators will not charge for empties or relay cargo but they want a fee of $20 per box for intra-Asia shipments.

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