Shipping lines CMA CGM and APL as well as Hyundai Merchant Marine and TS Lines assured clients they have adequate container yards within Metro Manila to accommodate the return of empty containers.
In a customer advisory published in its website and in PortCalls, CMA CGM Philippines, Inc. said its depots within Metro Manila where consignees can return empties include IRS Navotas, NCT in Caloocan, PRLI Malabon, Manila International Container Terminal, and Manila South Harbor.
Hyundai also published in PortCalls its empty return location: NCT Transnational Depot (Caloocan City); Seacontainer Terminal (Navotas City); PRLI Depots (Malabon and Bulacan); Manila International Container Terminal; and South Harbor, Port of Manila.
Ben Line Agencies, the agent of TS Lines, in an advisory likewise published in PortCalls identified the off-dock depots where containers can be returned: Seabox (Navotas), IRS (Navotas), CBPI (Pandacan), Box IT (Tondo), SMED (Sta Mesa), IRS (Cavite), LGICT (Laguna).
The shipping line advisories were issued after several trucking groups early this month said they planned to stop accepting and delivering cargoes from a few international shipping lines, including CMA CGM/APL and Hyundai, starting April 1 to highlight their protest over continued delays in return of empty containers, a long-standing issue between truckers and foreign carriers.
Along with CMA CGM/APL and Hyundai, TS Lines and Wan Hai were also identified by the trucking groups “to be the most problematic with the planning of their equipment.”
Last week, Atty. Maximino Cruz, general manager of the Association of International Shipping Lines, told PortCalls truckers and AISL member lines have agreed on at least two initial measures to address the long-standing issue involving delays in the return of empty containers to container yards.
READ: PH truckers, carriers address problem of delayed return of empties
The first requires shipping lines to indicate the designated CY, regardless of its location, in the container release order.
The second stops the levy of the detention charge if the designated CY refuses to accept an empty container that arrived on schedule.
In its advisory, CMA CGM said, “The CMA CGM Group in the Philippines will continue to work with our partners to ensure our import customers are able to return their empties to designated container yards as quickly as possible.”
To ensure orderly and smooth return of empties, CMA CGM requested clients to continue sending emails for the pre-advise (terminal) and slot confirmation (container yard) prior to delivery of empty containers by the client’s nominated trucker.
The email addresses are mnl.north-terminal@cma-cgm.com and mnl.south-terminal@cma-cgm.com, while contact details for queries regarding the shipping lines’ empty return process are APL Customer Service 479-5055; CMA CGM Customer Service Hotline (479-5099); and Operations and Logistics Team (4795015 or 479-5000 local 5310 or 5121).
Hyundai, for its part, said its terminal offices and staff are on standby 24/7 and ready to coordinate return of empties.
It advised clients to email org.hmm-ph-12010500@hmm21.com and rbdantic@gmail.com for pre-advising before empties are returned to container yards by nominated truckers. Clients may also call 242-2102 (MICT Terminal); 310-3205 (South Terminal office); or 405-8116/18 (Hyundai office).
In its advisory, Ben Line said, “Our Pre-Advise Staffs are on 24/7 standby to ensure that empty returns are being attended. Rest assured that we are speeding up the process of your pre-advise requests in order to serve you better.”– Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of joesive47 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Updated on March 28, 2018, 9:05 pm, to reflect additional information from TS Lines/Ben Line Agencies’ on where to return containers.
