Lines detail problems at North Harbor

THE Philippine Liner Shipping Association (PLSA) has identified problems at the North Harbor which have supposedly caused confusion among port users and showed a general lack of organizational capability on the part of Manila North Harbor Port Inc (MNHPI), the port’s new operator.

In a letter distributed to members of the PPA Board last Monday, the PLSA said it expects the Board to be true to its mandate of being the “protector of public interest” and recall the recent turnover order for the port until such time MNHPI is ready and compliant with its contract requirements.

The letter identified the following complaints from shipping companies and their customers:

1. Shippers of PLSA members are complaining about the tedious procedures imposed by the new operator. Direct and cash payment is centralized at the MNHPI Pier 6 office thereby causing a long queue. In the past, payments could be made in every pier.
2. A fee of P75 is charged for the issuance of gate pass to truckers/shippers. There was no such thing in the past.
3. Employees of shipping companies were not allowed entry into the port. The MNHPI guards claim they were waiting for a list of employees to be allowed entry. This should have been done way ahead of the takeover.
4. MNHPI personnel were issuing gate passes to clients. At around 6 pm of 13 April they ran out of gate pass. The MNHPI just left and did not return.
5. Customers complained it took them at least four hours to get the gate pass. This resulted in long queues and idle time of trucks.
6. Vessels are lined up at the berths because MNHPI has no equipment capable of lifting laden containers. The ships have been lying idle for three days already. Trucks are already at the port waiting for containers to be unloaded from the ships for them to deliver to the consignees. If most of the ships are stuck here in Manila, there will be no ships to service the Visayas and Mindanao trade.
7. Equipment are periodically pulled out and transferred from one pier to another delaying the completion of loading and discharging operations of vessels.

According to PLSA, the above problems are currently being experienced by Negros Navigation, Moreta Shipping Lines, NMC Container Lines, Solid Shipping Lines, Oceanic Shipping Lines, Sulpicio Lines and Lorenzo Shipping Corp.