OPERATOR of the Kingston container terminal — Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL) — reported yesterday that it has now managed to clear the backlog in the processing of containers for shipment and clearance.

The pile-up resulted when haulage contractors withdrew trucking services between August 8 and 9 to protest against slow turnaround times at the port, which they said had caused them to lose earnings over several months due to the reduction in the number of trips they are able to make.

The backlog resulted in KFTL extending business hours to accommodate the truckers, following several meetings at which a number of measures were agreed on to improve turnaround time and other processes at the port.

KFTL stressed that the clearance of the backlog was a collaborative effort with the Port Authority of Jamaica and the Jamaica Customs Agency.

“Over the period August 14 to 18, 2017, KFTL managed to deliver and receive 641 containers per day, which is 33 per cent above the 2017 daily average and 10 per cent above the traditional peak of December, with turnaround time at the gate trending down to an average of 45 minutes,” a release from the French-owned company said.

It was also noted that the executives of the Port Trailer Haulage Association and KFTL had joined efforts to reshape the gate in/out process to ensure greater efficiency and better overall performance.

KFTL took over the port in April 2015 under a 30-year concession agreement with the Port Authority of Jamaica. KFTL is jointly owned by the members of the consortium, Terminal Link and CMA CGM with a 40/60 per cent equity interest. The agreement gives KFTL the right to fund, expand, operate, maintain, and transfer the terminal at the end of the life of the concession period.