Marseilles freezes 2010 port tariffs

Marseilles freezes 2010 port tariffs    The Port of Marseilles Fos said this week is joining other European ports who have frozen port tariffs for 2010 to support customers 'in a strained economic context' and to 'enhance the port's competitiveness.'
Marseilles has seen 2009 volume rise 5 percent to 741,000 TEUs through October, primarily due to a 25 percent rise in volume at the Fos deep sea terminal to 589,000 TEUs.
   Tariffs are being held at 2009 levels across all cargo categories, including the container, oil and bulk sectors. Rental charges for warehouses and yards are also being held. In addition, access to the port rail network will be reduced from 31 euros per train to free.
   'The only general price increase will be for utilities, with an average rise of 4 percent for electricity, water and telecommunications,' the port said.
   Meanwhile, the port also said it is preparing to bid out cargo-handling operations to a private terminal operators under a 2008 French port reform law requiring the transfer of some operations to private stevedores.
   The port said 'it was obliged to act after the national evaluation commission for port reform noted the failure of existing operators Eurofos and Seayard to reach agreement on setting up a joint company.'
   In addition to Graveleau, the port is planning privatization of the Mourepiane container terminal at Marseilles, two dry bulk terminals, one handling cereals and another handing ore at Fos.
   The port authority has up to six months to finalize operating agreements with the stevedoring companies — Carfos, which operates at both terminals, and Stockfos, a Carfos subsidiary at the ore facility.