One week delay for Felixstowe box scans

Importers are faced with week-long delays and increased demurrage costs at the port of Felixstowe because of container scanning delays.

Freight forwarders and customs agents said the UK Border Agency (UKBA) was taking seven days to process selected containers rather the normal 24 hours because of problems with scanning equipment and a lack of UKBA operatives.

"Last week, there was a backlog of 400 containers and various people were jumping up and down, " said one customs agent and freight forwarder.

"My client has now got to pay the port and the shipping line demurrage through no fault of his own."

He said his client’s demurrage costs would total a minimum of £200 (US$296) and a maximum of £500 per teu.

A spokesman for the port of Felixstowe admitted there had been some issues with UKBA’s scanning equipment at the port.

He added both the port and UKBA were now working to solve the problem.

The initiatives involved port staff working double shifts and UKBA bringing in extra scanning equipment.

He hoped the backlog of containers would be cleared "soon" but could not give a specific date.

Bifa director of trade services John O’Connell said he was aware of the problems at Felixstowe.

"The UKBA has been selecting more containers for examination than they can actually screen using the equipment they have got, resulting in a backlog of containers, " he said.

"The knock-on effect is freight forwarders, customs brokers and the importer are experiencing, in a number of cases, very severe delays in getting hold of their goods - up to a week."

He added Bifa was in constant dialogue with the port and UKBA. He understood the UKBA had new scanning equipment in place and was hoping to start clearing the backlog.