KOCHI: The International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), shipping majors CMA, CGM and Hapak Lloyd are reportedly planning to withdraw their NEMO (direct service to European destinations) services which they started this month.According to reliable sources, the shipping lines may withdraw their Cochin call as they find no advantage at ICTT over Colombo, where the same containers that have arrived from Tuticorin would not be subjected to any customs formalities. “If this happens, we can do nothing. We have not received any such communication so far, but we expect one anytime,” said a top official at DP WorldIn the latest stand off between the cochin customs and SEZ, the former on Friday offloaded around 60 containers from a mainline vessel that had to leave Kochi by 6 pm the same day, delaying the departure of the vessel. The DP World authorities said they have been following all norms while exporting containers via ICTT. “As per transshipment procedures, set by the SEZ development commissioner at the time of commencing operations, all transshipment containers arriving at ICTT Vallarpadam would be manifested by the SEZ officers at the terminal in a document called Form SEZ-1B. This form would serve as the manifest for all transshipment cargo intended for clearance at customs stations other than Kochi or destined to ports outside the country. A copy of Form SEZ-1B would also be furnished to the Commissioner of Customs,” they said.“Customs authorities insist that they check the seals of all the transshipment containers that arrive at the terminal. This will only delay the movement of containers and the whole objective of transshipping will be futile. If these cumbersome procedures continue, international shipping lines will avoid ICTT and continue to use Colombo as their transshipment hub,” they said. If the situation continues, ICTT will find it difficult to attract mainline vessel calls which will adversely affect transshipment operations in Kochi.
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