DP World to reject incorrectly marked shipments

DP World to reject incorrectly marked shipments Dubai Ports World issued a circular this week saying that improperly marked shipments have been clogging the operator's flagship terminal in Dubai and will be rejected, as of Dec. 1.
   The company said shipments arriving without 'marks and numbers' or with information that does not match the manifest falls under the new requirement. DP World urged shipping agents to ensure the proper information is listed prior to departure from origin ports.
   'It has been frequently observed that several packages land in Jebel Ali port without 'marks and numbers,' with improper 'marks and numbers' or where 'marks and numbers' exist but do not tally with the manifest,' the terminal operator said. 'Such packages remain unclaimed at the port until the shipping agent receives accurate information from the load port which can take months. These packages incur significant storage charges and cause operational difficulties in the yards. Often, packages remain unclaimed for an extended duration and are eventually auctioned by Ports and Customs.
   'In order to avoid difficulties all shipping agents are kindly requested to not accept 'nil mark' and adversely packed cargoes at load ports. Effective Dec. 1, DP World will not allow any package without 'marks and numbers' or with wrong 'marks and numbers' to be discharged in Jebel Ali. All 'marks and numbers' should be as per the manifest.'
   Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Dubai World Chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem met with China Shipping President Li Shaode in Shanghai to discuss business opportunities. Dubai World is the parent company of DP World.
   Leaders from the two state-backed companies met earlier this year in Dubai. DP World is interested in growing its footprint in China, while non-oil bilateral trade between China and Dubai grew 47 percent from 2006 to 2007, to $19 billion.