Main Image Attribution: John Fielding

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has issued a strongly-worded statement to the owners of the port of Felixstowe, which had asserted that its recently introduced new terminal operating system (TOS) was ‘stable’.

Robert Keen, Director General of BIFA, said that his members still face significant problems at the port with shipping lines cancelling calls; or operating a cut-and-run policy, where the ship leaves before all containers that are booked are loaded, or discharged.

He added: “Those members are also experiencing knock-on effects at other UK ports where vessels are being diverted, causing additional cost and disruption.

“Previously BIFA has expressed its disappointment that the port authority, which owns Felixstowe has made it clear that it does not consider BIFA members to be direct customers of the port, and would not be willing to have a discussion about possible compensation for the damage caused and the increased costs that have been incurred by those members.

“We have made it clear to the port authority that BIFA believes that many of its members are the port’s customer for the terminal processes that it undertakes after a vessel has been discharged for imports and prior to loading for export traffic.

“In our opinion, as the port authority produces a publicly available tariff detailing services being offered and the associated charges; and then either invoices the freight forwarder directly for these charges; or grants credit facilities, all the elements of a contract between the port authority and our members are thus in place.

“The port authority does not accept this line of argument and we remain very disappointed that it is not even prepared to discuss any kind of compensation for such a complete failure in customer service.”

Image: John Fielding

Main Image Attribution: John Fielding

Freight forwarders that suffered operational damage and incurred additional costs as a result of the disruption to operations at the UK port of Felixstowe have been told by BIFA to not expect compensation.

The disruption occurred following the introduction of a new operating system in June, but it seems the port’s owners are only considering compensation for shipping lines caught up in the saga.

Robert Keen, Director General of the British International Freight Association (BIFA), said: “Having had a meeting with the port’s senior management, it is clear that the only companies that might receive any compensation are shipping lines.

“The port authority has made it clear to us that it does not consider BIFA members to be direct customers of the port, and would not be willing to have a discussion about possible compensation for the damage caused and the increased costs that have been incurred by those members.

“It is astonishing that a port authority, which owns the UK’s busiest container port and has been happy to market it as the ‘Port of Britain’, implemented a new and vitally important system with apparently no fall-back position if it went wrong.

“And it is very disappointing that it is not even prepared to discuss any kind of compensation for such a failure in customer service.”