THE Ports Department will enforce a 36 per cent reduction of import and export laden container charges, effective from August 1, 2016.
The specific reductions are on stevedorage charges accounted to shipping agents, and the Load-On Load-Off (LOLO) and wharfage charges accounted to forwarders. These are some of the charges borne by consignees for services rendered at the Muara Container Terminal.
The port charges reduction will be enforced at Muara Container Terminal as part of the initiative to boost local industries by lowering logistics costs, and for Muara Port to remain competitive with sub-regional ports within the BIMP-EAGA region.
On top of the port charges reduction, the Ports Department has extended the Free Storage period for all import and export containers. The extension from two days to five is expected to save storage costs for consignees and consignors as longer periods allow ample time for permit approval processing.
The Ports Department will continue to ensure that the transfer of containers will remain smooth and undisrupted.
The reduction of port charges is expected to benefit local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in terms of handling costs at Muara Container Terminal, which is in line with the Ease of Doing Business Initiative under Trading Across Borders, and will attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country.
The Ports Department also predicts that lower rates will attract more cargo and vessel calls to Muara Port, subsequently increasing connectivity in the region. In addition, this initiative is also expected to encourage other stakeholders in the logistics sector to reduce their charges such as shipping, forwarding and transport charges. Towards these aims, relevant agencies are being reminded not to capitalise on these port charges.
For more information, visit the Ministry of Communications’ website at www.mincom.gov.bn; the Ports Department’s website at www.ports.gov.bn; the Trading Across Borders website at www.tradingacrossborders.gov.bn and www.business.gov.bn.
The public can forward their queries to info@ports.gov.bn, or call Darussalam line 123. Alternatively, members of the public can visit the Business Support Centre, EIDPMO at the Design and Technology Building, Anggerek Desa.
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