Hong Kongshippers say carriers levy false box damage charges
CONTAINER shipping lines and their depot agents have been accused by local shippers of forcing them to pay increasing surcharges for alleged damage to containers.
According to a survey by the Hong Kong Shippers' Council (HKSC), shippers were being charged for damage they were not liable for and the poll found that the size and frequency of fees charged for box damage has been rising.
One unidentified Hong Kong shipper said: "Shipping lines are asking for cleaning or chemical wash fees for almost all empty containers returned to their depots, even though our cargo is clean, packed in paper cartons and moved only by hand at our own warehouse."
Furthermore, shippers claim ocean liners and depots are forcing them to pay for container damage in spite of being able to prove non-liability with an equipment interchange report (EIR).
"Even though damage is clearly marked on the EIR upon gate-out at the terminal, some shipping lines insist on collection of repair costs on return of the empty at its depot," said one shipper.
"Otherwise, acceptance will be denied, or the tractor will have to wait for hours, causing delay and extra costs. This is blackmail."
Sunny Ho, director of the HKSC, said three times as many complaints about unfair container damage charges had been received this year than in previous years.
"The situation has definitely worsened in China and Hong Kong," he said. "It could be because there are more damaged containers in circulation because of equipment shortages, or that lines have cut back on customer service, which makes it harder to resolve disputes."
John Lu, chairman of the Asian Shippers' Council, claimed rising container damage fees were just part of liner efforts to generate additional revenue by whatever means possible.
"We've already had emergency revenue charges, which are obviously illogical in a supposedly free market. Now we have these damage charges," he said.
"In Asia, lines can impose fees and surcharges for anything they want because shippers have no regulatory protection. This type of unfair charge on customers will continue until governments in Asia take action."
DATE:2012.4.19
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