Demurrage, NPA Nightmare?

-But Boasts Of Revenue Growth

By Esau J. Farr

The National Port Authority (NPA) has described as a nightmare the issue of constrains faced in demurrage clearing at the Freeport of Monrovia in Montserrado County.

Demurrage is that money or payment made to shipping agencies on goods or containers that are not cleared from shipping companies’ domain beyond the extra fifteen (15) days’ period for consignees (owners of containers) to clear their goods from the shipping agencies.

The assertion was made Tuesday April 30, 2019 on the Super Morning Show hosted on ELBC by the Public Relations Manager, Malcolm Scott.

His assertion was in response to the question whether or not the proclaimed free demurrage announced by President George M. Weah recently.

Recently President George M. Weah announced a free demurrage on all containers to run from April 1-20, 2019 an opportunity that has since expired.

According to Mr. Scott, the announcement made by President Weah brought relief for many consignees most of whom are Liberian importers.

He also sees the decision of the President to announce a free demurrage as “being human”.

“The President was just human,” to have come to the aid of Liberians who were faced with constrains of paying demurrage fees to shipping agencies at the Free Port of Monrovia, Scott added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Scott has boasted of high revenue generation recounting a US$4.5m generation by the NPA as the highest intake ever in the history of the port after the civil wars. TNR