No smooth sail for seafood exporters

KOCHI: It seems that the seafood exporters in Kochi will have no solace in   near future with shipping lines refusing to cooperate with the new system of direct billing of terminal handling charges (THC) introduced by the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam. According to the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI), they have   suffered a loss of `3 crore this season alone owing to the exorbitant THC.  Prior to the opening of the ICTT, the THC was collected by steamer agents,  who were members of the Cochin Steamer Agents’ Association, and it continued even after the ICTT was commissioned.“At that time, the terminal handling charges was `8,000 plus. When the  operations shifted to Vallarpadam, without any reason the steamer agents  began to invoice `18,000 plus for handling charges at the ICTT,” said an office-bearer of the the Kerala region of SEAI.Aggrieved by the heavy charges, the SEAI had approached the Kerala High Court and the Court had directed the chairman of the Cochin Port Trust to  look into the issue and take a decision.  Following this, the Port Trust chairman had held a hearing and issued an order in July, 2011, stating that only the terminal operator was entitled  to collect charges for services at the terminal and the charges should be in tune with the rates fixed by the Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP).  The authorities of the Dubai Port World, which operates the terminal, had  earlier said they were ready for direct billing if the exporters registered  with them. “The Cochin Steamer Agents’ Association (CSAA) office-bearers also expressed the same opinion and said they were ready to back out from collecting THC  from the exporters. However, the shipping lines have informed that they would not provide container if we do not proceed with the existing system. Now, our only hope lies with the court,” said Sandu Joseph, secretary of the SEAI. The DP World authorities have received an intimation from the shipping lines regarding their disagreement for direct billing of THC by the terminal operator. During season, approximately 50 containers of seafood reach the terminal every day.