By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter 
Hylton
PERSONS WAITING to clear goods from the APM Terminal in Kingston could be in for a long wait this Christmas.
This, as administrators at the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), have admitted that they have been experiencing a serious space problem and are unable to accommodate incoming cargo.
President of the PAJ, Noel Hylton, told The Gleaner yesterday that there was limited space at the terminal to facilitate ships in the sea with cargo, and which are waiting to berth.
"There is no space. In any part of the world at this time of year, the ports are like this, congested," said Mr. Hylton.
DOCK AT SEA
Reports are that over the past three weeks a number of ships have been forced to dock at sea, waiting their turn to berth.
"Some of these ships spend between two and three days out in the sea and it cost the shipping line about US$65,000 per day (J$3.5 million)," said Richard Minott, president of the Customs Brokers Association of Jamaica.
It is reported that a number of ships have moved on to other ports with containers that were destined for Jamaica, just to avoid the per day cost to dock in the Kingston Harbour.
A major concern of Mr. Minott is that some customs brokers are in possession of people's documents, but are unable to clear their goods.
Andrew Henry, president of the Port Trailer Haulage Association, said the problem is having an adverse financial impact on haulage contractors, because they are unable to deliver goods to their clients on a timely basis.
He said the Port Authority had implemented a system where haulage contractors were to advise the APM Terminal operators that they were coming to get a particular container. The notice should be sent at least 24 hours before they turn up at the terminal for the container.
"This system is in place, but it is not working 100 per cent," said Mr. Henry.
In November, the PAJ issued a statement, informing members of the public that, in a bid to clear the current backlog of containers at the island's terminals, it would be extending its normal working hours. The PAJ also expressed the willingness to open on Sundays.
Kingston is a transhipment hub with 90 per cent of cargo going through the terminal destined for other countries. Since July, there has been an increase in the movement of cargo through the island.
