This archive report was first published on 5 July 2020.
On July 5, 2020, a significant development occurred at Tanzania's Dar es Salaam port, where a large number of Rwandan containers that had overstayed due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions were finally allowed to leave.
The delays, which had caused significant disruptions to trade, were attributed to the pandemic restrictions that had slowed down the movement and clearance of cargo in and out of the country.
According to Stephen Ruzibiza, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Private Sector Federation (PSF), more than 2,000 containers had been released in the past week after the port authority agreed to waive charges and penalties associated with delays in cargo clearance.
"At least 250 to 300 of the affected containers have been cleared to leave the port on a daily basis ever since the port authority responded to our request to waive the charges, and asked for supporting documentation," Ruzibiza said.
PSF had initially requested a 120-day window for the evacuation of the containers, indicating that they expected the current delays in movement and clearance of cargo to go back to normal by mid-July.
Additionally, the Kenya Maritime Authority extended the penalty-free period for containers in transit at the port of Mombasa and along the Northern Corridor in a notice dated July 3, 2020.
The notice stated that all cargo currently held at the ports would enjoy an extra seven days of free demurrage penalties effective July 1, 2020, with the decision valid until the Covid-19 pandemic challenges subside.
