Container handling at Aqaba terminal at full capacity — ACT

AMMAN — Handling and loading operations at the Aqaba Container Terminal are progressing at the highest capacity in coordination with stakeholders, especially after recent decisions that contributed to accelerating the progress of work, according to the ACT administration.

The terminal is witnessing increased activity since most global lines have transferred their loads to Aqaba because of the regional situation, ACT Chief Commercial Officer Vincent Flamant said Monday, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Moreover, Flamant highlighted that outgoing filled containers increased by 46 per cent in May 2015 compared to May 2014.

Also on Monday, Amman Chamber of Commerce President Issa Murad announced that the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) has decided to form a specialised committee to look into financial claims related to fines for container storage in the container terminal. 

ASEZA Chief Commissioner Hani Mulki agreed to the request, noting in a letter the chamber received on Monday that the authority issued directives to form the committee, Petra reported.

Mulki explained that the committee will be tasked with identifying the reasons behind delays and taking the necessary measures to address them.

The panel will also study the possibility of compensating those harmed by the delays at ACT.

Murad called for establishing a seven-day grace period for clearance, provided that it starts from the date of the complete unloading of the container.

Container handling and processing will continue at ACT during Eid Al Fitr after Mulki called for working through the Friday to Monday holiday to deal with the increasing movement of merchandise at the facility in order to complete the handling of 3,800 ready containers and send them to their destinations.

Merchants and importers have been complaining about delays in handling shipments at the terminal that are causing major losses for them.

If delays persist at the terminal, an increase in the prices of some food items, a shortage of certain commodities and the closure of some small factories could take place, the Foodstuff Traders Association has warned.