Cargo freighters in East Africa have applauded the move by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to consider their plea to have the free storage period extended.
The Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA) had written to KPA to have the number of days increased to 14 days for domestic cargo and 21 days for transit cargo. FEAFFA, the umbrella body of the clearing agents in the East Africa, also made a similar plea to the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA).
Domestic export containers will enjoy a free storage period of 15 days compared to earlier 9 days. Transit import containers at the port and Inland Container Depot in Embakasi will enjoy a 14 days free storage period from 9 days with transit import container in Naivasha enjoying 30 days. Transit export container will now enjoy a 20 days free storage period from the current 15 days, KPA announced in a public notice.
These changes that takes effect immediately for the next 90 days, however, did not extend the domestic import cargo as requested by the freighters, which remains at 4 days.
“We welcome the KPA move. It will now enable our members to carry out their business operations smoothly. However, we will continue to engage KPA based on how the situation unfolds to have similar concession extended on domestic imports as well,” Mr. Fred Seka, FEAFFA president said, adding that they will also continue engaging TPA to initiate a similar move.
East African Community Partner States, the World Health Organization and other agencies have issued several directives, guidelines, administrative measures aimed at helping contain the spread of the deadly corona virus that have significantly slowed down movement and clearance of cargo in all countries and across all borders.
In letters written last month, the Tanzania Freight Forwarders Associations (TAFFA), Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA) and FEAFFA cited delays in arrival of original commercial documents required for cargo clearance, which are traditionally moved by air, has been heavily affected by closure of international airports.
“ Reduced efficiency created by reduced workforce and or reduced working hours by Revenue Authorities, Port Authorities, Inland Container Depots and Container Freight Stations, Shipping lines, Standards Bureaus and others in order to keep social distance or retreating for mandatory quarantine have contributed to many delays,” the letters said.
The lockdowns imposed by some EAC Partner States have reduced efficiency of all the freight forwarders in the region through reducing working hours, reduced manpower and inability to move.
Also the night curfews have subjected movement of cargo to several checks and additional time-consuming requirements increasing the transit times and almost no office work at night.
“Border efficiency has reduced due to a reduction in manpower by the trade facilitation agencies, introduction of addition procedures such as testing for COVID19, reduced working hours, restrictions on the movement by customs agents among others,” concluded the letter.
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