The Competition Commission is conducting a preliminary assessment of a complaint against Durban Gateway Terminal (DGT) and eight shipping lines over allegedly excessive storage charges, landside congestion and anti-competitive practices.
Positive Freight Solutions (PFS), which represents 140 transporters employing an estimated 6 000 people, filed the complaint in July.
The shipping lines named in the complaint include Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Maersk South Africa, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, Ocean Network Express (ONE), COSCO, Pacific International Lines and Evergreen.
Commission spokesperson Siyabulela Makunga confirmed to Freight News that the authority had received the complaint.
“The Commission is conducting a preliminary assessment to determine whether there are sufficient grounds to proceed with the complaint,” Makunga said.
PFS alleges that avoidable terminal delays are being monetised through demurrage, detention and storage charges imposed while hauliers are unable to access containers for reasons beyond their control.
MSC previously disputed the allegations, saying terminal storage charges were imposed by DGT and that demurrage was not charged to trucking companies or independent hauliers.
A DGT spokesperson previously said the terminal “remains actively engaged with the relevant stakeholders”.
Maersk South Africa, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, COSCO, Pacific International Lines, Evergreen and Transnet had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
