Customs brokers and truckers are being encouraged to register with and use GoFast, the online system that organizes the return of empty containers to depots.
Even if ports are efficient as long as infrastructure outside them are underdeveloped or incomplete, then congestion remains a likelihood, said Atty. Maximino Cruz, Association of International Shipping Lines (AISL) general manager, in a presentation during the Sept 30 Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. forum.
Problems with returning empty containers worsened during the Manila port congestion last year, often leading to the diversion of truckers to depots other than the one assigned to them by shipping lines due to lack of space. This compounded fuel costs and detention charges for truckers as they failed to return the empty container during the agreed period.
“We have to be proactive,” Cruz said about ensuring congestion does not happen again.
In a letter to AISL members, Cruz said implementation of GoFast is “very timely and urgent due to the reimposition of modified truck ban” and the “expected widespread disruption in truck and cargo movements during the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Summit in November.” The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority re-imposed the daytime truck ban starting Sept 15 in preparation for the summit.
GoFast is an integrated electronic platform that interconnects all stakeholders directly involved in empties returns, including shipping lines, truckers, customs brokers, and depots. The project is AISL’s contribution to the long-term solution to problems of cargo accumulation and congestion at Manila ports.
Cargo Data Exchange Center (CDEC), which specializes in technology solutions for the trade, transport and logistics sectors, was tapped to develop and implement GoFast.
According to CDEC chief executive officer Leo Morada, nine shipping lines have already submitted their empty container inventory list, a requirement for carriers to go live in the system. Three lines are on dry run, and one has been using the platform for a couple of months now. A total of 25 customs brokers were part of the pilot testing while 970 customs brokers have pre-registered with the system.
Morada said GoFast provides visibility to users and helps eliminate extra cost for stakeholders that arise due to unpredictable returns.
These added costs, Morada said, cover phone and text fees when customs brokers need to know the availability of a shipping line delivery order; follow-ups on the availability of a return depot; confirmation on the time for an empty to be returned; and retrieval of the equipment interchange report (EIR) printout from the truck driver. Customs brokers also need to pay P150 to reprint a lost EIR, while some pay a “facilitation fee” of almost P2,000 if they want to find space in a depot.
Through GoFast, the delivery order can be notified online and printed; there’s visibility as to which depot has space; the status of trucks can be viewed online; and the EIR can be printed from the system at no extra cost.
The system has an introductory price of P30 (VAT exclusive) per booking, payable through the prepaid system.
Morada said GoFast is not a value-added service provider system so clients of other VASPs may use the system. – Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of franky242 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
