Total Transport Solutions (TTS) Maldives has decided to charge a fee of USD 75 USD for each container starting this Wednesday, to cover additional operational costs due to delays in unloading goods at the commercial harbour in capital Male.
The Operational Cost Recovery (OCR) fee is to be charged from all CMA CMG containers, a French brand of cargo containers used by TTS to import goods to Maldives. It is also the third biggest container shipping company in the world.
The implementation of this new fee comes amidst increasing complaints of overcrowding at the commercial harbour. Merchants have been complaining that it takes days to unload goods, while previously it took 24 hours.
The notice released by TTS stated that it is continuously reviewing expenditures such as operational costs. The company added that changes made will be in accordance to the rise and fall of such costs.
In 2016, Port Congestion Charges were implemented, charging USD 65 per container due to overcrowding in the commercial harbour.