The Antwerp Port Authority today announced that it will during 2010 freeze most port dues at 2008 levels, keep concession fees and some port dues at 2009 levels, and further reduce dues for the transshipment of breakbulk cargoes by ten percent under certain conditions.
The Port Authority’s goal is to stem losses in freight volume and employment and to help shipping companies struggling because of the recession.
In addition to freezing dues and fees, Antwerp, Europe’s leading breakbulk port, will also reduce port dues for the transshipment of breakbulk and conventional cargo such as steel, fruit, paper and forest products by ten percent. However, these rate reductions will require labor unions and employers to improve their efficiency in loading and unloading labor-intensive cargoes.
"Nobody can deny that the port of Antwerp has lost some trade in the past years due to the overly rigid work organization in freight handling," Alderman Marc Van Peel said in a statement from the port. Antwerp CEO Eddy Bruyninckx said, “We expect to see clear signals from both sides of industry before 1 January about their willingness to make significant improvements in the efficient use of dock labor.”
The Port Authority’s goal is to stem losses in freight volume and employment and to help shipping companies struggling because of the recession.
In addition to freezing dues and fees, Antwerp, Europe’s leading breakbulk port, will also reduce port dues for the transshipment of breakbulk and conventional cargo such as steel, fruit, paper and forest products by ten percent. However, these rate reductions will require labor unions and employers to improve their efficiency in loading and unloading labor-intensive cargoes.
"Nobody can deny that the port of Antwerp has lost some trade in the past years due to the overly rigid work organization in freight handling," Alderman Marc Van Peel said in a statement from the port. Antwerp CEO Eddy Bruyninckx said, “We expect to see clear signals from both sides of industry before 1 January about their willingness to make significant improvements in the efficient use of dock labor.”