MORE than 4000 containers and 10 vessels have been handled at Suva Port in the past seven days, as the Fiji Ports Terminal Ltd (FPTL) works through a surge in maritime traffic.
In a public notice, FPTL said the port was facing heavy congestion caused by several vessels arriving in clusters after experiencing delays at East Asian and Pacific Island ports.
The influx has significantly slowed quay and yard operations, affecting the delivery of import containers and the loading of export containers.
“The situation has been made worse because many importers only collect their containers on the third or last free day, and there is limited clearance during weekends and after hours,” FPTL said.
To ease crowding, the company is urging importers to clear containers promptly upon discharge to maintain sufficient yard space for incoming goods.
While the situation remains beyond FPTL’s control, given its obligation to receive all arriving vessels, the company assures stakeholders that it is working diligently to process cargo as quickly as possible.
FPTL also warns that similar disruptions may occur in the future if shipping schedules remain unpredictable and vessels continue to arrive in close succession.
Stakeholders will receive timely updates as the situation changes.
