Calfo agrees to review surcharge on Kolkata Port users

Giving relief to both exporters and importers of Kolkata Port, who were suffering from huge trade surcharge imposed by the Calcutta Feeder Operators (Calfo), the body has agreed to reconsider the issue and remove it as soon as possible.

Calfo had imposed the surcharge in December demanding that they have to recover the losses suffered due to drop in the loadability of vessels caused by the deterioration in river draft.

“We had a meeting with the Calfo representatives today and they agreed to review the surcharge and will reach a decision on it as soon as possible,” said M L Meena, Chairman of Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT), after a meeting with Calfo members on Friday.

Singapore-based Calfo is the body of feeder lines offering services between Kolkata Port and Singapore and had slapped the surcharge on all shipments between the two ports.

The rates were $150 per twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) and $300 per forty-foot equivalent units (FEU).

To bridge the communication gap between the feeder operators and the port, KoPT and Calfo have formed a committee — which includes three port officials and two Calfo representatives.

“In Kolkata, operational issues needs to be sorted out, for that we should have a better understanding with the port, feeder operators, mailine opeartors(MLOs) and shippers. Regarding surcharge, we will hold a meeting in February and will reach on a decision,” said SC Lim, a senior Calfo official.

Meanwhile, to boost the image of Kolkata Port across the world, Calfo will join hands with KoPT.

“The body will be marketing Kolkata Port abroad, as they understand the shipping lines better. However, the modalities and arrangements on this are yet to be worked out,” Meena said.

He added that the image building will help Kolkata to regain the cargo, which it had lost to ports like Mundra.