The Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC) issued directive to port terminal operators and Inland Clearance Depots (ICD) to refrain from charging consignees for delays of cargo off take where the terminals’ inefficiency was the cause for the delays. The said directive was issued through letter with reference number DA.82/102/01/47 dated 10/02/2022. Nonetheless. TASAC has continued to receive complaints from stakeholders regarding counting of free period by terminals based on date of cargo unloading irrespective of delivery inefficiency by terminals contrary to the above-mentioned directive. This practice results into more storage bills to consignees than it should otherwise be.
This Public Notice is intended to sensitize stakeholders on the directive and remind terminal operators to observe appropriate counting of storage free period as follows: –
a) For cargo delivered to consignees from maritime ports, storage free period should commence right after subject consignment is “carried in” the TANCIS: and
b) For ICDs bound cargo that is delivered to consignees from the dry port facilities. storage free period should commence counting right after subject consignment is “carried in the TANCIS at the maritime port terminal if the respective ICD transferred the subject consignment within forty-eight (48) hours from discharge date otherwise free period should commence upon “carry in end” at the respective ICD.
c) Where delay to transfer containers to ICD Is due to failure of responsibility by a terminal operator the terminal operator shall not impose storage and removal charges to the ICDs in order that the ICD will not be compelled to recover from consignee.
This guidance seeks to ensure port terminals do not consume significant time of free days in their internal processes such acts translate into terminals earning out of inefficiency.
Issued by:
DIRECTOR GENERAL
TANZANIA SHIPPING AGENCIES CORPORATION
12th April, 2022
PSSSF Tower, 7th and 8th Floor, Plot No. 20/21, Garden Avenue/Ohio Street,
P.0 BOX 988, Dar es Salaam – Tanzania, Tel.: 255 22 2197500, Fax: +255 22 2116697,
Email: [email protected], info@tasac.go.tz, Website: www.tasac.go.tz
