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TICTS opts for workshop to discuss customers` queries
2008-04-24 10:33:27
By Guardian Correspondent
The Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (TICTS) has been making efforts to reduce congestion of containers at Dar es Salaam port, according to the firm`s commercial manager Jay New.
During a presentation by Terminal Manager Cassian N`gamilo, New, pointed out a number of improvements to customer service when responding to various queries and suggestions from customers and container handling stakeholders at a one-day workshop organised by his company in Dar es Salaam.
TICTS had invited a group of compliant traders to inform them on container handling operations with particular reference to delays caused to customers`containers as a result of congestion at the port.
Representatives of Tanzania Revenue Authority as well as TISCAN (which carries out inspections on containerised cargo) were also present at the workshop.
New also discussed other time-saving measures that TICTS would consider in order to ``fast track`` containers, which had already complied with other regulatory processes, which are the responsibility of other port stakeholders such as TRA and TISCAN.
``Dwell time, that is the time a container stays in the terminal awaiting clearance, is one of the most important factors causing the congestion presently experienced at Dar es Salaam port.`` had explained.
Earlier, N`gamilo had explained: ``Long dwell time add to the constraints resulting from the limited space in which we have to work the ships as well as maneuver and stack the containers``.
He also emphasised the work of the special operations committee recently appointed by the Permanent Secretary in the Infrastucture Development ministry, describing how TICTS was seeking ways to reduce congestion in co-operation with the other port stakeholders, including TRA and TISCAN.
In a gathering where traders and other stakeholders were also present there was a lively interchange with several saying that TICTS had taken the initiative of calling them all together.
Some of the suggestions from the traders included doing away with the present post-lodgment of documents at TISCAN, saying it greatly contributed to delays in clearance of cargo.
However, TISCAN\'s head of Risk Management, John Ogonji told the gathering that his firm, in it`s contribution to helping decongest the port now, accepts pre-lodgment of documents.
Other customers reported that the physical examination of goods done at the port by TRA was a major cause of delay in releasing their containers.
This was countered by an official from TRA who said that his authority doesn`t conduct any examination at port for compliant traders adding that any such incident should be reported immediately.
The poor condition of the access roads to the port was severely criticised as well as routes and border posts connecting the neighbouring countries especially at the borders of Zambia, DRC and Malawi.
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