Propose many solutions for handling waste container backlog

A container full of smelly, stinking plastic waste, back at Hai Phong port. Picture: Ngoc Linh.

Must be processed from the root

According to Pham Bao Ngoc, the representative of CMA-CGM, it is necessary to deal with this issue from the booking stage, however, the determination of what is scrap and what is waste is not clear, especially with the phrase "used scrap goods". With this phrase there will be many different interpretations, and if the customer claims "used goods", the shipping company will not be able to require customers to provide import license. However, when goods arrive at the port, the goods are classified as scrap and not allowed customs clearance.

Mr. Ninh Cong Minh, representative of Maersk Line said that the cargo owner is responsible for declaration of cargo when shipping goods, but it is only when the shipping companies unload goods do they know whether the goods are properly declared or not. It is necessary to clearly define the responsibility of the shipper and the carrier for the consignment. At the same time, the handling of valuable scrap containers is very easy, but the valueless containers (most are the long lasting scrap containers with no owner to receive goods) are very difficult to find because of high processing costs. Therefore, I recommend splitting into groups to have the same treatment, such as auction or destruction ... so as to be able to focus on handling more.

Proposals on options for processing and managing scrap shipments will come into port operations in the coming time. Nguyen Truong Anh, deputy general director of Hai Phong Port, said that when arriving at port, the cargo shall be unloaded only when the shipping company, shipping agent or goods owner produces the import permit of the goods lot, which is still valid and promulgated by the competent agency and the written commitment to receive the goods, and the client's written confirmation of deposit for the port (if any). If the goods lot does not have a valid import permit, the shipping company and the shipping agent shall be requested to transfer the shipment to another port overseas before the ship arrives at the port, avoiding giving rise to time and cost to stakeholders.

In cases where it is necessary to release unsold goods out of port areas for avoiding affecting cargo circulation at seaports, the port enterprises shall take initiative in closely coordinating with shipping companies, shipping agents and related parties. To request the customs offices to transfer consignments of imported discarded materials of more than 30 days, and warehouses for over 90 days (goods without valid vouchers and / or unsold goods) to other yards.

In this regard, the Maritime Bureau also recommends customs authorities allow goods owners to clear their goods at these ports without having to change the port of destination on the bill of lading (B / L) and the manifest does not have to be returned to the port of the bill. And require the shipping lines and carriers to promptly provide information on the goods' names and codes in the list of goods unloaded from the ship to seaport enterprises. At the same time, the name must be declared clearly as well as the destination port on the bill of lading and on the system of information input (manifest). In case of revising the names of goods which are not included in the list of discarded materials permitted for import as raw materials for production (Decision No. 73/2014 / QD-TTg), shipping companies or shipping agents shall have to transport unloaded cargo to the vessel, out of Vietnam’s territory, and bear all related costs incurred.

Mr. Bui Thien Thu, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, recommends that scrap products, enterprises and shipping lines find it difficult to determine what items are allowed to be imported because there are no catalogs and HS codes. In the coming time, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Industry and Trade will have to make a list of discarded materials.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment needs to change management methods

As an importer of scrap materials for production, Hoang Duc Vuong, General Director of Vinh Thanh Joint Stock Company, said that not only enterprises directly importing scrap materials for production materials are entangled with the regulations of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, but also port enterprises and shipping companies are also facing difficulties. In recent years, port enterprises and shipping companies have not been able to get information from enterprises that are allowed to import scrap materials, so that there could be early preventive measures to avoid the situation of waste containers at ports.

Therefore, he suggested the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment allow licensees granted by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to extend the last 6 months of 2018 to receive shipments at ports, aiming at releasing inventories. Enterprises will then have raw materials for production.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment also has to concentrate on accelerating the import of new scraps for enterprises, considering extending the standard QCVN32: 2010 / BTNMT. Specifically, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment should put all types of recyclable plastics, with no more than 5% of impurities in the list of resins to be imported, or at least the types of pipes, plates, trays, toys, pallets, plastic containers ... with a view to making the most of the raw materials and avoiding backlogs at the ports in the future when imported goods are mixed with these plastics.