Parliament Cracks Down on Port Delays as Costly Container Demurrage Comes Under Investigation

Freetown, Sierra Leone – Parliament has launched a high-level oversight mission into Sierra Leone's maritime sector amid growing concerns over costly container demurrage, port inefficiencies, and delays affecting businesses and consumers across the country.

The Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Aviation has commenced an inspection tour of key maritime institutions, beginning with the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) and the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA). The exercise forms part of Parliament's constitutional mandate to ensure public institutions remain accountable and deliver efficient services.

The delegation, led by the Chief Whip of Parliament and Committee Chairman, Hon. Dickson Momoh Rogers, held separate engagements with the management of both institutions to assess operational performance, revenue collection, maritime safety compliance, and the implementation of government policies aimed at improving port efficiency.

Addressing officials, Hon. Rogers underscored the importance of transparency and accountability, noting that Sierra Leone's ports are central to the country's trade, economic growth, and government revenue.

The SLMA updated lawmakers on reforms to strengthen vessel registration, maritime safety audits, and compliance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards. Meanwhile, the SLPHA highlighted progress in cargo handling, terminal operations, and measures to reduce vessel turnaround times at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay.

A major highlight of the oversight tour was a site inspection of Bolloré Transport & Logistics, the operator of the Queen Elizabeth II Quay container terminal. Committee members toured container yards, storage facilities, and customs clearance points to investigate the increasing number of containers incurring expensive demurrage charges.

The Committee questioned terminal operators and port officials over documentation delays, inadequate storage capacity, and coordination challenges between agencies—issues widely blamed for slowing cargo clearance and increasing costs for importers.

Hon. Rogers warned that Parliament is prepared to act decisively if the investigation identifies policy or management failures.

"We came to see for ourselves why containers are overstaying and attracting huge charges. If the bottleneck is policy, we will legislate. If it is management, then action must be taken," he said.

The oversight exercise will continue across other transport and aviation institutions, with the Committee expected to submit a comprehensive report and recommendations to Parliament.

Hon. Rogers concluded that the objective is to improve the efficiency of Sierra Leone's ports, stressing that faster cargo clearance and better port management would reduce the cost of goods, create employment opportunities, and boost government revenue.

Source: Parliament of Sierra Leone