Shipping lines in Ghana operate within the law – SOAAG

The Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG) has refuted claims that shipping lines operating in Ghana are engaged in exploitative practices and charging arbitrary fees.

The association stressed that the shipping industry was guided by international laws and its members conduct their businesses in full compliance with the laws of every country in which they operated, including Ghana.

Speaking to journalists in Tema, an executive member of SOAAG, Adam Imoru Ayarna stated: “In shipping, when a shipper approaches a shipping line, there's a dialogue, an offer, and conditions that are agreed upon. These include local administrative charges and freight costs, which are always stated from the onset," he said, adding: “If any stakeholder does not understand the charges, they could seek clarification.” 

He was reacting to allegations by some stakeholders in the industry that ship owners and agents were operating outside the rules of operations. 

Members of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), the Association of Customs House Agents of Ghana, Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana, Customs Brokers Association of Ghana, on September 24, 2024, embarked on a protest during which they claimed the shipping lines had imposed unreasonable, unwarranted and exorbitant fees, such as local administrative charges, container cleaning fees, empty container fees and demurrage on weekends and holidays.

However, Mr Ayarna said when a shipper wanted to engage the services of shipping lines, the shipper would enter into a contract of carriage between the carrier and shipper for the transportation of the cargo, adding that this contract contained the terms and conditions to which the carrier and shipper were legally bound.

“The contract clearly included local charges at the port of origin and the port of destination, adding that these charges became part of the agreement signed by both parties.”

Demurrage

Addressing concerns related to the application of demurrage during weekends and public holidays when shipping lines and banks were closed, Mr Ayarna said such demurrage payment was avoidable if owners of containers could take advantage of online and remote services offered by the shipping lines to fast-track the release of cargo.

"It's true that demurrage is charged on weekends and holidays, but we've advised shipping lines to make provisions for remote cargo release during these times. Some shipping lines already have platforms that allow agents to release cargo offsite, even on weekends," he explained.

The Executive Secretary of SOAAG, Perpetua Osei-Bonsu, said as the umbrella body for the shipping lines in Ghana, their doors remained open to everyone, including industry players and the media, to throw light on the activities of shipping lines in Ghana and their contributions to the local economy.