Antwerp freezes port dues and concession fees to fight downturn

THE Antwerp Port Authority has announced it will freeze port dues and concession fees in 2010 at 2009 levels, having already frozen most dues at 2008 levels.

Furthermore, a 10 per cent reduction will be granted for transshipment of conventional/breakbulk cargo, provided employers and labour unions can make more efficient use of dock labour.

"With these measures the Port Authority seeks to combat further losses in freight volumes and employment, while extending a helping hand to shipping companies that are having to deal with the particularly sharp recession," said the press statement from the Antwerp Port Authority.

Next year, the port will charge 10 per cent less in dues for transshipments of conventional/breakbulk cargo such as steel, fruit paper and wood, for which Antwerp is the leading port in Europe. This type of cargo is faced with a number of structural problems.

"So the port authority has linked the reduction in rates to the condition that the labour unions and employers must make greater efficiency in loading and unloading such labour-intensive items, without compromising safety," said the press statement.

"Nobody can deny that the port of Antwerp has lost some trade in the past years due to the overly rigid work organisation in freight handling," said port alderman Marc Van Peel.

Said port authority CEO Eddy Bruyninckx: "We expect to see clear signals from both sides of industry before the first of January, about their willingness to make significant improvements in the efficient use of dock labour."

(Source: www.schednet.com)