APM Terminals offers 50% waiver on overtime containers

APM Terminals Apapa Limited, a Danish terminal operator in charge of Apapa Container Terminal, has granted 50 percent storage charge waiver to importers on overtime containers at the terminal in order to decongest the port.

Neil Fletcher, chief commercial officer, APM Terminals, disclosed that about 724 overtime containers are currently sitting at the terminal, saying the offer was aimed at supporting the government in its effort to reduce clearance time and congestion at the seaports.

“If cargo is released and delivered fast, then no storage penalty will apply, but if, on the other hand, cargo is left in the port for many weeks or months, then high storage penalty will apply because the port is not for storage,” Fletcher said.

He urged importers and their agents to take prompt delivery of their containers in order to avoid incurring high storage charges.

APM Terminals Apapa had in 2008 and 2011 waived a combined total of more than N2.5 billion storage charges for longstanding containers at its facility.

In another development, the company has also added more value to clearing agents and Customs operatives as it introduced free bus shuttle from its gate to the new examination site that became operational last week.

“We are introducing a revolutionary multi-level physical examination facility which is costing us $10 million. This facility will become operational in the second quarter of next year as part of our third phase expansion plan,” said Fletcher.