The Hong Kong Shippers Council (HKSC) is exerting pressure on ocean carriers to stop their depots from imposing new landling charge fees starting April 1.

The no-joke additional of HKD10 (USD1.29) per delivery or collection of an empty container is to be levied by the Hong Kong Container Depot & Repairer Association's (CDRA) depots and has incensed the HKSC. It maintains that its members are already paying THCs and documentation charges to ocean carriers, which should cover all depot charges.

In a letter to ocean carriers dated March 13, the HKSC strongly objected to the charge and suggested that it may also be in breach of anti-competition laws.

It seems that the ocean carriers have themselves been surprised by the action of the CDRA and in responses from MOL, Maersk, CMA CGM and Hamburg Sud, the general tenor is that the depots are not authorised to impose the charge.

In fact MOL and CMA CGM, through the HKSC, have advised truckers NOT to pay this charge and to refer any disputes to them.