Tunisian ports closed to all car-carriers
Tunisia’s interim government has formally closed all of the country's ports to all car-carriers. The Ministry of Commerce has granted port authorities the power to prevent foreign car carriers from berthing and discharging car and excavator cargoes, according to the department’s website.
Local agents are reported to have stated that the action was fuelled by the findings of a corruption probe that targeted local import and export businesses.
“This is the result of a broad investigation of all the car importers' financial and legitimacy, following the ousting of the former government and claims that illegal privileges have been allocated,” port agent GAC told clients in an e-mail earlier today.
Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi on Thursday announced the composition of Tunisia’s “new national unity government”, which named Mahdi Hawwas as trade minister and Ayad Jalloul as head of the Finance Ministry.
Earlier in the week African liner specialist Delmas had been forced to suspend its service to Tunisia.
The current political crisis in the North African country has had a “huge consequence” on its services into the country, the company stated.
Delmas, a subsidiary of CMA CGM, pointed to the closure of ports at Tunis and Sfax that were making it impossible to continue operations. It also cited a lack of manpower at the docks, an absence of customs authority and the temporary closure of its maritime agency in the country.
Delmas operates into Tunisia on a cross-Mediterranean service via the Malta Free Ports terminal, where shipments will be held until the situation is resolved.
Local agents are reported to have stated that the action was fuelled by the findings of a corruption probe that targeted local import and export businesses.
“This is the result of a broad investigation of all the car importers' financial and legitimacy, following the ousting of the former government and claims that illegal privileges have been allocated,” port agent GAC told clients in an e-mail earlier today.
Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi on Thursday announced the composition of Tunisia’s “new national unity government”, which named Mahdi Hawwas as trade minister and Ayad Jalloul as head of the Finance Ministry.
Earlier in the week African liner specialist Delmas had been forced to suspend its service to Tunisia.
The current political crisis in the North African country has had a “huge consequence” on its services into the country, the company stated.
Delmas, a subsidiary of CMA CGM, pointed to the closure of ports at Tunis and Sfax that were making it impossible to continue operations. It also cited a lack of manpower at the docks, an absence of customs authority and the temporary closure of its maritime agency in the country.
Delmas operates into Tunisia on a cross-Mediterranean service via the Malta Free Ports terminal, where shipments will be held until the situation is resolved.