全国货主、货代企业:
码头作业费(THC)问题经过调查机关两年多的调查,同时经过咨询专家组的论证,调查机关终于在2006年4月20日公布了THC调查结论,主要内容如下:
一、THC在性质上属于国际集装箱班轮运费的组成部分;
THC is a component part of the freight in international container liner transportation;
二、班轮公司集体订立运价协议不得对公平竞争和国 际海运市场秩序造成损害;
The collective agreements of the liners shall not be detrimental to the fair competition and disturb the order of international shipping market.
三、以联合通知或公告的方式宣布同时按相同的标准 在我国收取码头作业费客观上限制了托运人自由选择承运人的权利,在一定程度上损害了国际海运市场秩序。类似行为要禁止再次发生,对于订立集体运价协议但没有依法履行备案手续的班轮公会成员和国际班轮运输经营者,要予以处罚;
The joint collective agreements or notices limit the right of shippers to choose carriers freely. It is not good for the normal price competition among liner companies and disturbed the order of the international shipping market to a certain extent. Such practice can not be happened again in the future, penalty will be imposed on the members of liner conferences and freight discussion agreements who had reached the collective freight agreements but failed to fulfill the required filing procedures;
四、要建立船货双方的有效协商机制,对共同关心的事 项进行充分有效的协商;
Consultation mechanism should be set up between carriers and shippers for the purpose of full and effective consultation on issues of mutual interests before the implementation of freight agreements and various surcharge agreements;
五、在中国收取码头作业费的班轮公司没有按照交通部2002年12月30日公告要求报送材料的国际班轮运输经营者,要予以处罚;
Penalty will be imposed to those international liner operators who collected terminal handling charges at Chinese ports and failed to submit their reports as required.
六、班轮公司扣发提单和货物的问题,通过司法等途径解决。
If the liner companies detain bills of lading and cargoes, shippers can seek settlement of the case through judicial channels.
我们认为调查结论是公平、公正的。调查机关明确“THC在性质上属于国际集装箱班轮运费的组成部分”,从法理和逻辑上表明,班轮公司不能在运费之外再另收THC,货主、货代可据此拒付THC,如班轮仍然强行收取THC,扣发提单或扣货,可起诉班轮公司。希望货主和处在第一线的货代企业理直气壮地拒付不合理的THC,以维护货主、货代企业本身的合法权益和调查结论的尊严。
According to article 1 of the Conclusion, Liners can not charge THC separately from the freight from the shippers or consignees, shippers can reject THC, if liners insist to collect THC and detain bill of lading or cargo, the shippers can file such case to the court for settlement.
中国对外贸易经济合作企业协会
中国国际货运代理协会
2006年4月25日