WTSA’s container seal tariff rules correspond with Indian rules

WTSAÆs container seal tariff rules correspond with Indian rules    India's government has implemented strict Customs requirements that loaded containers arriving at or departing from Indian port terminals must have proper bottle or bolt seals affixed, officials at the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement said Monday in a statement.
   The requirements are part of stepped-up port and cargo security measures, and WTSA container lines have adopted corresponding tariff rules, effective Dec. 1, to cover potential liability and costs in the event of non-compliance.
   Shippers are responsible for presenting containers that are properly sealed, WTSA said, and failure to adhere to the regulations may result in refusal by port authorities to load or discharge the container.
   Container seal requirements apply to terminals at Nhava Sheva, Mumbai, Mundra, Chennai, Cochin, Tuticorin, Calcutta, Haldia, Marmagao, Mangalore and Visakhapatnam. Individual ports may have specific requirements regarding types of seals to be used.
   WTSA is advising customers that, for all India cargo, shippers are responsible for affixing containers with high-security seals to meet government requirements at destination. If a high-security seal is damaged or omitted from a container, requiring the carrier to affix a seal to the container on the shipper's behalf, a $100 handling fee per container will be assessed, to be paid in full prior to release of the cargo.
   Carriers will not assume any responsibility or liability on claims and/or charges arising from affixing a seal to a container on the shipper's behalf. Any fines, fees and charges, including demurrage ' plus any costs accrued to return a container to its port of origin ' will apply to the account of the cargo.
   WTSA members are American President Lines, Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., China Shipping Group, 'K' Line, COSCO Container Lines, Nippon Yusen Kaisha Line, Evergreen Marine Corp., Orient Overseas Container Line, Hanjin Shipping Co., P&O Nedlloyd, Hapag Lloyd Container Line and Yangming Marine Transport Corp.