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Dispute on cargo handling rates saw two vessels of SAIL waiting at berths 12 and 8 of the Haldia port, under Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) for unloading the imported coking coal cargo since April 14.
The stalemate is costing SAIL a bomb on a daily basis.
CartelisationAccording to sources, SAIL in a communication to KoPT, on April 14, accused the onshore cargo handler Ripley & Co, for putting indirect pressure on the company to pay more than the port approved charges.
The bone of contention is on hiring some pay loaders for unloading the cargo from the ship (on board handling).
It is told that Ripley denied providing the same unless they are offered higher than approved rate of ₹120 a tonne for onshore handling.
Ripley had an agreement with SAIL at a higher rate for the last fiscal. However, SAIL sources claim that the agreement became invalid following declaration of lower ceiling rates by KoPT.
On April 15, SAIL issued an express order to Five Star Logistics for deploying pay loaders. However, the Trinamool Congress-led union stopped the same, sources said.
Port investigationsMeanwhile, sources say, a KoPT enquiry found substance in SAIL’s complaint. It was found that importers entered in parallel agreements with onshore cargo handlers for paying more than the approved rates.
Six ships at berths 2, 4B, 5, 7, 9 and 10 were reportedly unloading dry bulk cargo on Wednesday at higher than ceiling rates. A final report on the issue is expected in a day.
Ripley’s responseMeanwhile, Shoumik Bose, Chief Executive Officer, Ripley & Co, said he has not breached any contractual obligation.
“My job is to carry out shore handling operations. There are financial implications when we opt for on-board operations,” he said. According to Bose, Ripley was asked to carry out on-board operations also, that is outside the purview of the onshore ceiling rates.
“I have not for once said that I will not carry out handling operations in any of my correspondences with SAIL,” he said adding that Ripley sought a clarification on the terms and conditions of the work.
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