The Ethiopian Shipping and Logistic Services Enterprise (ESLSE) announced that it has exempted its clients from paying charges for  storage and demurrage of their imported containers.

According to the announcement, the enterprise will relieve its customers from demurrage and storage fees for containers shipped through the multi-modal transport scheme and reached the Port of Djibouti before July 1, 2012.

Clients who have more than five 20 feet container at  Mojo Dry Port and Comet Container Terminal are allowed to clear their goods in the containers using the new written guarantee scheme (Letter of Understanding).

Previously, the enterprise requires money guarantee for the containers in which the goods are transported. Based on the new scheme, clients are also relieved from this cost.

The state owned enterprise has also arranged a loan facility for its clients to finance transportation of their cargoes. Beneficiaries of the loan arrangement are clients who transported there cargoes through the multi-modal transport scheme up until January 8, 2013 at the Mojo Dry Port, and Comet container terminal.

The Enterprise has also taken measures to expedite multi-modal transportation to avoid congestion at dry ports.

The enterprise has also allowed its clients to transport and import their product without pre-payment. Based on the new procedure, customers will conclude payment to ESLSE sea-and-land transportation, demurrage and services at the Port of Djibouti, after they collect their goods with assurance.

ESLSE’s announcement to cover demurrage and storage costs as well as facilitating a loan scheme for its clients is to solve financial problems faced by its clients for transporting their cargoes from dry ports and the Port of Djibouti, creating congestions.

Source: Capital