The Hindu Business Line : CCTL refund scheme comes under flak

CHENNAI Container Terminal Pvt Ltd (CCTL) will refund charges for container storage in the yard during the recent strike in the container terminal. However, the Chennai port users are unhappy over the decision, claiming that the refund comes with certain conditions not acceptable to them.

According to CCTL, the private terminal operator belonging to P&O Ports, the storage refund for the strike period - May 23 to June 5 - will be paid for containers in the yard as on May 23 or containers discharged during the strike period. Refund in the form of credit will be based on the shipping lines/custom house agents/consignees submitting proof of custom duty paid PNR (public notice register) movement copy or job order copy of CCTL.

The storage refund will also be given for the inland container depot (ICD) containers that were in the yard from the first day of the strike or which landed during the strike period. However, this is based on TSA (transhipment application) document, says a CCTL trade notice.

The company will also refund for containers moved under en bloc between June 21 (10 p.m.) and June 29 (6 a.m.) - about 3,900 boxes and related part bill of lading containers. Refund will be from the date of filing of PNR up to the date of gate out of CCTL, the notice said.

The port users, however, said that the refund should be unconditional, treating the strike period as "dies non" (non-existent) and the period of en bloc movement, as there was a failure on the part of the private terminal operator, CCTL, to perform.

In the past, the Chennai Port Trust, being a public sector organisation, considered total waiver during the strike period. The CCTL should abide by the past decision of the Port Trust, and follow TAMP's (Tariff Authority for Major Ports) guidelines, which said that the trade should not be penalised for the failures of the terminal operators, port users said in a communication to TAMP.

As the trade had financially suffered a lot, the users urged TAMP to direct CCTL to fully waive the storage charges both during the strike period and the period of en bloc movement of boxes, the communication said.

It may be recalled that a few days ago the Shipping Ministry directed TAMP to consider representations made by Chennai port users, including various industry associations, on waiver of storage charges.

According to CCTL, the example cited for full waiver of storage charges during the strike period was not applicable in the case of strike. The terminal continued to be operational during the strike and was working at 55 per cent efficiency.