publish time

19/05/2020

author name Arab Times

publish time

19/05/2020

KUWAIT CITY, May 19: The total lockdown, which was implemented in Kuwait from May 10, has completely paralyzed the country’s ports as a result of companies and individuals not being granted security permits to allow the release of their goods, which are accumulating beyond the ports’ capacity to accommodate.

They rang the bells of danger, warning that continuation of this situation will lead to a greater crisis and cause shortage of both food and medicine stocks, unless the concerned agencies are aware of the seriousness of the situation and take necessary action.

The sources explained that thousand tons of commodities are stacked in the warehouses and container yards in Shuwaikh and Shuaiba ports. They are no longer capable of receiving incoming ships due to the accumulation of goods.

Continuation of this situation may endanger import of food and frozen meat, and consequently thousands of importers and consumers will be affected.

Security permits for shipping agencies, customs clearance companies and individuals have not been issued since the implementation of the total lockdown. This prevents them from receiving imported goods and commodities, as thousand tons of them are accumulated in the container yards and warehouses.

The sources said, “About 90 percent of the goods and commodities in the country are imported. The absorptive capacity of the ports has been exhausted, as 26 warehouses in Shuwaikh Port as well as the container yards in Shuaiba are full to the maximum capacity.”

They indicated that truck drivers are currently unable to load the goods, because some checkpoints of Ministry of Interior have stopped them due to lack of security permits. The sources revealed that Kuwait Ports Authority’s inability to receive ships and vessels currently would expose Kuwait to pay fines up to $50,000 for keeping them in waiting areas or returning those ships to the regional ports, thereby exposing companies and individuals to face huge losses.