Public Affairs Manager at Surface and Marine Transport (SUMATRA) David Mziray

Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA ) has given the Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (TICTS) a three-month ultimatum to improve efficiency at the Dar es Salaam port.

The ultimatum seeks to avert a possible introduction of between 200-250 US dollars (between 318,801/- and 398,502/-) per container  as vehicle delay surcharge (VDS) that shipping liners demand due to increased dwell time at the Dar es Salaam port.

Sumatra Public Relations Manager David Mziray told Daily News in Dar es Salaam on Monday that the shipping liners’ demand has been put on hold, pending TICTS improvement of its cargo handling equipment. “We have stopped it (VDS)…I will send you a statement soon,” said Mr Mziray while responding to complaints by importers that shipping liners are seeking to introduce the VDS effective next month.

In a letter dated February 13, 2012 to TICTS Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Neville Bisset, Sumatra urged the container terminal operator to repair a broken down ship-to-shore gantry and improve crane productivity. Sumatra carried out performance evaluation at the port following VDS notices issued by Maersk Line, Safmarine Line, MSC Line, WEC Line and CMA CGM Line last month seeking to introduce the VDS fee as compensation for the delays.

“The evaluation found out that performance of the container terminal with respect to waiting time, turnround time, crane productivity and ship productivity was unsatisfactory, both in terms of customer expectations and regulatory benchmarks,” said the letter signed by acting Sumatra Director General, Ahmad Kilima.

With copies served to Ministry of Transport Permanent Secretary, Omari Chambo who also chairs Dar es Salaam port efficiency committee, Mr Kilima further noted that ongoing civil works at Berth Number eight also reduced performance capacity at the port. Sumatra said after the next three months, Tanzania Ports Authority, TICTS, shipping agents and its own officials will review progress made and finally decide on whether or not to introduce the VDS.

“In case the terminal performance remains below expectations, shipping lines will have an option of initiating VDS,” the letter noted while warning that Sumatra is currently, “Assessing modalities of the terminal operator responsible for unsatisfactory performance to bear VDS wholly or partly.”

Mr Chambo who convened the port’s efficiency committee meeting last weekend also challenged TICTS to improve its performance and join TPA which is reportedly doing up to 40 percent of container handling. The country’s container terminal has four cranes of which one is was recently installed by TICTS while the two belong to TPA and date back to late 1980s and early 1990s.

The fourth crane is broken down and TICTS officials said repair work may last the next six months.

By FINNIGAN WA SIMBEYE, Tanzania Daily News

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