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Selangor Freight Forwarders
and Logistics Association (SFFLA) will take
legal action against shipping lines and
container operators that were recently found
demanding deposits from freight forwarders to
release the delivery order (DO) document.
According to the association, this violated the
guidelines set by the Port Klang Authority (PKA)
in 2001.
The guidelines only require a forwarder to issue
a letter of undertaking which guarantees that
the forwarder or its consignee will pay for any
detention charges or damages to the container
when returned.
A detention charge is a penalty for late return
of the empty container to its owner, the
shipping lines or agents. It will take effect
after five days. Freight forwarders collect DOs
from shipping agents in order to release laden
containers from the port.
Vice-president Alvin Chua said SFFLA had
informed its members not to give any deposits to
shipping lines and container operators.
“This is in view of the current scenario where a
couple of shipping lines have been demanding
deposits of about RM300 per container,” he told
a press conference recently.
Chua said these shipping lines had also ignored
PKA's instructions to release the DOs.
“Now they are asking for the consignees or
importers to clear their goods at the port.”
The association said in a statement that
forwarders refused to give any deposits to avoid
any abuse by shipping lines that usually came up
with reasons to retain the deposits.
“The usual excuse made by shipping lines is that
it's for washing and cleaning fees that vary
from RM10 to RM200.
“They also often demand compensation for damages
that are obviously not made by forwarders or
their consignees, including compensation for
container floor boards and rusted parts,” it
said.
“How can consignees and forwarders be
responsible for all these damages when we only
keep the container for an average of two days?,”
Chua said. |
