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Outcry at GNSC Wharf, as cement vessel forced out for rival shipment
(Kaieteur News) – Questions are being raised over fairness and possible preferential treatment at the Guyana National Shipping Corporation (GNSC) Wharf on Lombard Street, Georgetown, after an international vessel, MV Maddox, was reportedly forced to halt discharge operations and vacate the port to make way for a competing supplier’s shipment.
Cement Maddox being escorted away from GNSC’s Wharf by the Coast Guard after port authorities ordered its removal to accommodate a competing supplier.
Kaieteur News understands that MV Maddox arrived at Georgetown’s outer anchorage at approximately 01:48hrs on April 23 carrying around 16,000 metric tons of bagged cement for KSM Investments Inc., a locally owned concrete products manufacturer and major cement importer.
The vessel is reported to have been instructed to await its turn to discharge the shipment of cement at the GNSC Wharf after another vessel occupying the facility would have completed operations and depart. According to a reliable source, on Sunday evening (April 25) KSM Investments Inc. received an all-clear instruction from the GNSC to dock their ship. The vessel arrived late Sunday evening alongside the GNSC Wharf and commenced discharge at around 03:00hrs on Monday April 27. KSM is said to have paid almost GYD$25M in upfront discharge and wharfage fees to the GNSC.
According to reports, hours later, discharge operations were halted by the GNSC General Manager, Indranauth Haralsingh, in letters sent to KSM as well as the ship, despite the earlier approval to dock and discharge. The crew was reportedly told that it had to undock and leave immediately to accommodate another vessel, the MV Nanami Bright.
The Nanami Bright arrived alongside the GNSC Wharf on Tuesday (April 28) – almost five days after Maddox arrived. No other explanation was given to the crew onboard the vessel. Kaieteur News understands too that the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guards were also sent to escort Maddox away from the port to accommodate Nanami Bright. Heavily-armed police were also deployed on the wharf.
Kaieteur News later found out that cargo onboard the Nanami Bright is also cement (a different grade) for a competitor. That company despite arriving after Maddox had Sunday posted on its Facebook page, “Cement shipment arriving Today” to notify its clients and potential buyers that a Vietnam brand cement will be back in stock.
MV Maddox departing from GNSC Wharf.
A reliable source told Kaieteur News that such a move is not only disregard for a ‘first come first serve basis’ but will cost the owner of the cement onboard Maddox millions of dollars in additional expenses (losses and demurrage). KSM was reportedly out of the big bag cement to run its manufacturing operations at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, due to its shipment being delayed as a result of the war in the Middle East and the heavy increases in freight rates.
The source explained that the affected supplier will now have to spend an additional US$24,000 to dock and undock the vessel again.
The supplier will also have to pay US$16,000 more per day for at-least 10 days in demurrage costs until it gets another approval to offload its cargo.
Demurrage is a penalty fee charged by shipping lines or terminal operators when cargo ships (remain at a port or terminal for longer than the agreed period).
Shipping sources told Kaieteur News that the forceful eviction of the MV Maddox will have serious implications for Guyana where international shipping and maritime is concerned. Another source said “this is the first time I am hearing of something like this. This may be a first in international shipping.”
Up to press time, no valid explanation for the move was given by the GNSC authorities. Kaieteur News learnt that one of the individuals connected to the competitor might be a person of influence in the current administration. Several efforts to contact Mr. Mahadeo Panchu, owner and CEO of KSM were unsuccessful.
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