Kenya Maritime waives storage charges on cargo containers waived

By Patrick Beja |

Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) has waived storage fees for empty containers held in various state holding facilities since June 1 this year, giving a reprieve to local and regional importers. The state agency said the waiver was agreed after it was established that importers were affected by the challenges of Covid-19. In June, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) suspended various operations at the port after several employees were diagnosed with the virus. One employee at port died of the disease. After the cargo is delivered to the final destination, an empty container should be returned to the shipping line within a free period of 14 days for local and 45 days for transit cargo. KPA offers a seven-day free storage fee for empty containers before it starts to levy Sh1, 500 for a 20-foot and Sh2, 200 for a 40-foot container until it is removed from its depots. The move to backdate the extension of the free period means importers will now enjoy over two months free period.
Last week, KMA announced that it had given seven days free period for transit cargo and three days for local cargo respectively being moved along the Northern corridor with effect from July 1 this year. Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC), the equivalent of KMA, also extended the free period for containers with effect from March this year to cushion shippers from the delays arising due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The free period for containers from the port of Dar es Salaam going to Rwanda through Rusumo was extended from 30 days to 55, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Rusumo was extended from 55 days to 80 while the free period for those headed for DRC through Tunduma was extended from 55 to 65 days. In a letter to shipping agents dated June 10 this year, TASAC director-general Mr. Emmanuel Ndomba also cut down the free period for containers destined to Zambia from 40 days to 50 days in the new arrangement. He halted the use of the storing order on receiving/returning empty containers with immediate effect to improve the availability of equipment and trucks.