Customs delays cause backlog of 9ths containers at the port of Odessa
On the territory of SE Odessa Commercial Sea Port (OCSP, Ukraine) have accumulated more than 9,000 containers waiting for customs clearance procedure, the Ukrainian newspaper Today reports citing the OCSP’s Chief Nicholas Pavlyuk. The delays were caused by the ongoing inspection of the Southern Regional Customs conducted by the state commission from Kiev.
"Uncleared cargoes can lock the operations at the port. There is not enough room for unloading of containers now, only just for another ship and that’s all. This is due to the fact that the customs office in recent days has practically ceased screening and clearance of containers," said the head of the port.
The same situation at Ilyichevsk port, which is also located within the area of Southern Customs, the newspaper said.
Container throughput at Ukraine ports in Jan-Aug, 2010 amounted to 407,593 TEUs. In particular, the Odessa port handled 216,743 TEUs (a 38-percent increase), Ilyichevsk port – 86,187 TEUs (+18%) and the Port of Mariupol – 3,764 TEUs (+31%).
"Uncleared cargoes can lock the operations at the port. There is not enough room for unloading of containers now, only just for another ship and that’s all. This is due to the fact that the customs office in recent days has practically ceased screening and clearance of containers," said the head of the port.
The same situation at Ilyichevsk port, which is also located within the area of Southern Customs, the newspaper said.
Container throughput at Ukraine ports in Jan-Aug, 2010 amounted to 407,593 TEUs. In particular, the Odessa port handled 216,743 TEUs (a 38-percent increase), Ilyichevsk port – 86,187 TEUs (+18%) and the Port of Mariupol – 3,764 TEUs (+31%).