Shippers’ Council Seals Shipping Firm Over N3m Demurrage Charges

Abiola Seun I

For the second time in two months, the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), yesterday sealed off the operational office of Cosco Shipping Line, Apapa, Lagos over excessive demurrage charges.
The company’s operational office was sealed indefinitely in the early hours of Wednesday by a combined team of officials of the ports economic regulator and mobile policemen.
Speaking to Journalists, the Director, Special Duties with the Council, Mr Ignatius Nweke said the latest development followed failure of the shipping agency to refund about N3million as demurrage charge in favour of Sunflag Nigeria Ltd.
Sunflag had earlier petitioned the NSC which on intervening in the case had asked the shipping agency to settle the amount involved after some level of investigation.
It was gathered that the shipping company had made the first move to settle the amount but had defaulted in making full payment.
Both Sunflag officials and those of the NSC had made spirited efforts to get the remaining amount settled without success, leading to the sealing of the agency’s office.
Nweke said the sealing of the company may be indefinite until the officials make up their mind to settle the amount involved.
Nigeriamaritime360.com recalled that the Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement Division of the NSC had few months ago sealed the office of the shipping agency for about two hours in respect of $23,000.00 as overbilling demurrage charges imposed on Sunflag Steel Limited.
The company was said to have agreed to settle the amount which was among the reasons considered by Shippers Council to soft-pedal on the case to allow the shipping agency settle Sunflag.
It was gathered that the latest development may not be unconnected with unpaid balance of the $23,000.00. .
The Council had recently sounded a fresh note of warning to shipping companies and other service providers that may choose to circumvent the law by either over-billing shippers on demurrage charges or indiscriminate imposition of illegal charges.
The ports economic regulator said its officers were on the field to monitor such incidences against importers, exporters and will take appropriate action to stop the perpetrators.