TIRANA, Sept. 29 – A German concessionaire operating in Durres Port has been involved in a new dispute with port authorities and rival companies over stevedoring services in the country’s biggest port.
Germany-based EMS APO which in 2013 was awarded a 35-year concession contract to operate the Eastern Terminal of Durres says it is experiencing renewed attacks by competitor backed by the Durres Port Authority describing the situation as “an orchestrated attempt to squeeze EMS APO out of business.”
“It is outrageous that the port authority is doing nothing about the illegal occupation of our terminal. We see this as an orchestrated attempt to squeeze EMS APO out of business,” says Manfred Muller, the managing director of EMS Albanian Port Operator.
The concessionaire claims that it has been the target of constant obstructions by rivaling companies which are supported by the port authority for more than a year.
The German company says its status as a certified stevedoring company has also recently been acknowledged by Albanian ministerial officials.
A delegation led by Jorg Asmussen, the State Secretary of the German Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, visited Durres Port and the German concessionaire last week.
The Durres Port has not officially reacted to new claims by the German concessionaire but last June dismissed as untrue claims that the its activity had been illegally blocked by rival stevedoring companies, saying that concessionaire was not licensed to offer stevedoring services.
“EMS representatives should be aware that even in case they are licensed, they cannot create a monopoly in the stevedoring services because Durres Port is an open port and every customer can choose the stevedoring company on their own. This is essential to keep this service competitive and avoid monopoly prices,” said the Durres Port in a statement.
Three Albanian stevedoring companies have also expressed concern over the monopoly that is being established in the country’s biggest port.
