Container Volume Drops
Fiji Ports Terminal Limited (FPTL) has recorded an 11 per cent decrease in container cargo volume the last 10 months because of the challenges posed from COVID-19.
Head of Corporate Services Salesh Kumar added that FPTL has also recorded a 19 per cent reduction in bulk cargo volume.
“Fiji Ports Terminal Limited is continually investigating avenues to increase cargo volume handled in our ports since it is directly related to our revenue,” Mr Kumar said.
“Our focus is to obtain more transshipment cargos to both the Ports of Suva and Lautoka and transform Fiji as a strategic transshipment hub for the shipping lines plying the region.
“We encourage containers more transhipment to our Ports through efficiency standards,” he said.
COVID-19
and service
He said FPTCL have implemented all safety measures which are strictly followed as recommended by the Minitry of Health.
Mr Kumar adds that leavy rates for vessels for have not been increased nor has any new levies been introduced as some may have speculated.
“There were 17 cargo vessels that arrived in Suva and 16 arrived in Lautoka last month,” he said.
Mr Kumar said rates for vessels were approved by port tariff and would not change based on the vessels as the rates were last revised in 2015.
Meanwhile, it has been obvious that in the same number of months there has been a consistent arrival of vehicle carriers to the Port of Suva.
Not only the vehicle carriers are bringing in vehicles, some vehicles are being brought in by bulk carriers and cargo ships.
Mr Kumar said four vehicle carriers arrived last month and a total of 805 vehicles were discharged.
“There were 17 cargo vessels that arrived in Suva and 16 arrived in Lautoka last month,” he said.
Movements Last week the Port of Suva received vehicle carrier Frontier Ace which discharged 296 vehicles.
The vessel arrived at the Port of
Suva on March 29 from Auckland, New Zealand and departed two days later heading for Japan.
Similarly, cargo ship Tropical Islander
arrived on the same day at the Port of Suva to offload 155 cargo containers.
The vessel arrived from Nukualofa,
Tonga and departed Port of Suva on March 31.