Vietnamese ports introduce terminal handling charges /17 Oct 2001/

In line with the rest of Asia, the Vietnamese ports of Ho Chi Minh City in the south and Haiphong in the north will implement a terminal handling charge (THC) for loaded and unloaded cargoes, after requests by the Intra-Asia Discussion Agreement (IADA).

Marine net has reported that the levying of a THC has already been approved by the Vietnamese government and was expected to be presented to the shippers of the Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce by Ken-ichi Kuroya, IADA's president and official at Japan's K Line.

Currently, shipping lines pay fees based on government tariffs at a minimum of US$37 per 20-foot container and $87 per 40-foot container in charges for loading and unloading at the two Vietnamese ports. Mr Kuroya and IADA have proposed a levy of $30 per 20-foot container and $50 per 40-foot container during the first stage of the THC programme. During the second stage the THC will be raised to recover all of the shipping line's terminal costs.

Source: Schednet newsletter, October 17th, '01