28TH Annual General Meeting and 2ND Annual Meeting Jakarta, Indonesia Action Programme, Sri Lanka Shipper's Council

Federation of ASEAN Shippers’ Councils 28th Annual General Meeting and Asian Shippers’ Council 2nd Annual Meeting Jakarta, Indonesia. 25- 27 September 2005. - Action Programme

27th September 2005

With the objective of promoting and protecting the interest shippers, the members have adopted the following action plan to develop a competitive, safe and effective international transport system:

To work for the establishment/improvement and effective functioning of maritime regulatory systems and removing the anti-trust immunity granted to the carriers by their respective national governments. Furthermore, to bring the THC issue to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) for guide lines and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for policy decisions.
To demand from the carriers and ensure the application of a simple ocean tariff structure in which an “all in freight rate” that includes the basic freight, terminal handling charge and other surcharges, which is to be charged to and be paid for by the party paying the freight. Shippers will call for stronger actions if the “all in freight rate” has not been adopted by the carriers.
To continue the efforts for an open dialogue with the carriers directly and through United Nations Economic and Social Cooperation in Asia-Pacific (UNESCAP) to find amicable solutions.
To leverage on the encouraging progress of maritime regulatory reforms by the different shippers’ councils in Australia, China, India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and South Africa and strongly advise the other shippers’ councils to take similar actions.
To support the initiatives of respective national governments in safeguarding their ports, waterways, ships and cargoes against terrorism.
To ensure a fair charging mechanism for the freight transport security measures is established. It is because enhanced security measures benefit all parties in the supply chain that includes governments, carriers, terminal operators and other logistics service providers, and therefore each party should bear its own costs and should not simply pass on their costs to shippers.
To continue on the promotion and protection of shippers’ interests through active involvement in global maritime affairs. As shippers are increasingly operating in a globalised world, member shippers’ councils will work to forge closer relationships by regularly exchanging information and updating each other on the progress achieved.
To compare and regularly update freight rates and other charges that are being collected in different regions and countries to ensure shippers are not disadvantaged.
To support the Asian Shippers’ Council’s participation in the Tripartite Shippers’ Meeting and other international fora.
To continue supporting the efforts of China Shippers’ Association (CSA) in requesting government intervention to have the THC reincorporated into the basic ocean freight as an all-in freight.
To continue supporting the efforts of the European Shippers’ Council (ESC) to bring about the repeal of Regulation 4056/86 that gives shipping conferences immunity from application of competition rules and regulations.
To further enhance the education and training of shippers to meet the complex international trading and shipping requirements. FASC/ASC members will collaborate in developing relevant training programmes.
The 28th FASC AGM and 2nd ASC Meeting have authorised the Chairmen and the Secretariats to implement this action programme.

Duly adopted on the 27th day of September 2005 at Borobudur Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia.

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