Cat Lai port and Hiep Phuoc port stop receiving plastic scraps due to too many backlogs

Thousands of scrap containers are stuck at Cat Lai port. Photo: T.H

Scraps are increasing day by day

According to Saigon Newport Corporation, after nearly 1 month of strictly managing scrap items in Cat Lai port, the situation is still not improving, the backlog of containers are increasing day by day. As of 15/5/2018, there are more than 7,000 tues of backlogs at Cat Lai port that cause local sticking at this port, affecting seriously business operation at the port for the shipping company and import-export enterprises.

To deal with this situation, leaders of Saigon Newport Corporation said that they have stopped receiving containers of plastic scraps from other domestic ports, including the ports belonging to the Saigon Newport Corporation with the port destination of Cat Lai Port.

From 1/6/2018, enterprises receive goods directly at the port of discharge or carry out procedures to transfer to other facilities of Saigon Newport Corporation to receive goods. At present, Saigon Newport Corporation is working actively with the customs office to coordinate and support enterprises when there is a need to transfer the port of destination.

For containers with plastic scraps imported directly to Cat Lai Port and Hiep Phuoc Port, from 1/6/2018, the Saigon Newport Corporation will only carry out unloading goods from a ship after the customer presents import licenses of the shipment which were granted by competent authorities and the time limit for receipt of the goods is sufficient. In case of insufficient vouchers as requested, shipping companies and enterprises shall coordinate with ports in transferring port for unloading of these goods shipments to other ports before the ships arrive at ports, avoiding the passivity when releasing ships that could waste time and cost for the concerned parties.

Especially, from 1/6/2018 to 30/9/2018, Saigon Newport Corporation will stop receiving all imported plastic scraps directly at these two ports as stated above.

After 30/9/2018, depending on the real situation at the port, Saigon port will have the next solution for the receiving plastic and paper scrap at these two ports.

Coordinating for handling

Eariler, when the number of containers of scrap at Cat Lai New Port was over 5,000 tues, in order to control and limit the imported scraps that were stuck long-term at Cat Lai port, on 23/4, Saigon Newport Corporation planned a solution for dealing with imported scrap in this port.

Accordingly, the Saigon Newport Corporation requested the shipping company to ask the consignors to provide a valid import permit when commencing the shipment of the scraps and to commit to a specific time of loading. For scrap containers located in Cai Mep area where the port of destination is Cat Lai or Ho Chi Minh City area, when customers provide full import dossiers and commit to having a specific date of pick up in writing, Saigon Newport Corporation will proceed to transport goods to Cat Lai for receiving goods.

For lots of goods left in port more than 30 days after the container is discharged at Cat Lai Port, if the customer does not carry goods receipt procedures, the port will transport to the Hiep Phuoc port for storage. The costs related to transportation will be borne by the customer and paid to the port upon check-in.

According to the Saigon Newport Corporation, since 1/1/2018, due to the effect of the ban on imports of scrap metal in China, the volume of plastic scrap and waste materials imported to Vietnam seaports increased dramatically. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Industry and Trade have tightened licensing of importation of these commodities into the Vietnamese territory. Thus it leads to the fact that many shipments have arrived in Vietnam but cannot be imported. Currently, the output of containers containing plastic, waste paper is only from Cai Mep to the existing beach of Cat Lai port about 1,000 teus. If the situation is not improved and no measures are taken in time, the amount of backlogs will increase.

Dealing with this situation, the HCM City Customs Department in collaboration with the Saigon Newport Corporation dealt to avoid traffic jam, affecting the process of customs clearance. At the same time, directing the border-gate customs sub-departments to intensify the inspection, supervision, scrutiny and carry out the procedures for import of discarded materials. Checking the dossier, permit, import conditions, quantity, weight, type of import and export, name of goods, code. The follow-up, subtraction of the license in accordance with regulations, leaders of the department must sign on the form of deduction. To organize the verification and verification of licenses / notices backdated for imported discarded materials if there are any doubts. To comply with regulations on handling of outstanding goods under Circular No. 203/2014 / TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance and set up a task force to monitor the procedure of waste material and handling the backlogs of scraps.