Citing delays caused by congestion, attributed also to the go-slow by ports workers, at Chennai port in India, the Container Feeder Operators (CFOs), operating out of Chennai port, announced that an 'immediate congestion surcharge' of US$75 per TEU will be imposed on all laden container movements between Chennai and Colombo, Malaysia and Singapore.

For all export sailings, the surcharge will be effective from May 15 (all sailings from Chennai to Colombo, Port Klang, Port of Tanjung Pelapas and Singapore), and for all import sailings effective May 30 (all sailings from Colombo, Port Klang, PTP and Singapore ports to Chennai).

The CFOs said that "the surcharge was imposed in view of the current (congestion) situation at the Chennai port resulting in feeder operators experiencing extreme delays at the port.

The CFOs wish to reiterate that the above is in accordance with the advice given to the trade in February 2001," says the notification.

The CFO members are Advance Container Lines Ltd., Bengal Tiger Line Ltd., Orient Express Lines, Samudera Shipping Line Ltd., Sea Consortium Pte Ltd. and Sea Services (Pvt) Ltd.

The surcharge was a fallout of the 'go slow' adopted by the 550-odd Chennai port container terminal workers. The go-slow enters its second week.

The workers are demanding implementation of their long-pending productivity-linked incentive scheme, due from 1998.