Heavy congestion at Nhava Sheva ports; export shipments crippled
Updated: Nov 12, 2013 04:28:27pm
Mumbai, Nov 12 (KNN) Just when India's exports are showing a much-needed turnaround, shipments at Nhava Sheva port terminals remain crippled as operators are resorting to go-slow after almost a two-week strike.
Seeking immediate intervention from the Shipping Ministry, EEPC India Chairman Anupam Shah said, “Even though the Nhava Sheva ICT operators have called off the strike, GTI terminal operators continued their Go Slow and the situation has become worse because of inventory and rollover…”
The GTI and JNPT terminal operators had also supported the Nhava Sheva ICT operators strike leading to delay in berthing of shipping vessels and sailings. Besides, some of the shipping lines resorted to omission to maintain schedules resulting in cargo being left at the port, EEPC India (formerly Engineering Export Promotion Council) said.
Nhava Sheva and JNPT are the country’s busiest terminals and any disruption there impacts the export and import cargo badly. The strike and go-slow have resulted in roll- over of containers leading to more inventories at the port and port congestion. It is also learnt that the port is advancing cut-off without any prior intimation to trade and putting restrictions on ‘move count on boxes’ for Shipping Lines resulting in shut-outs, rollovers and congestion.
“According to feedback from our members, at times shipping lines are discharging only imports and not allowing export movement resulting in inventory in the port. This is leading to Port Authority taking steps such as closure of gates in advance before the scheduled cut off time and not allowing fresh containers to Gate in,” EEPC India Chairman said.
He said the strike and port closure affects the transaction cost of exports causing exporter heavy losses per container.
Because of these disruptions, containers are required to unload at Buffer yards on chargeable basis. There is no guarantee of moving the containers for the scheduled departure because of heavy rush and the time slot allotted to move the container by the Port. Moreover, transporter is required to wait for unloading of the container affecting the turn around time of vehicles, which is a loss to the industry.
Shah said at a time when “we need to desperately keep the growth tempo in exports, we cannot allow any disruption in exports.” (KNN/PC)
Seeking immediate intervention from the Shipping Ministry, EEPC India Chairman Anupam Shah said, “Even though the Nhava Sheva ICT operators have called off the strike, GTI terminal operators continued their Go Slow and the situation has become worse because of inventory and rollover…”
The GTI and JNPT terminal operators had also supported the Nhava Sheva ICT operators strike leading to delay in berthing of shipping vessels and sailings. Besides, some of the shipping lines resorted to omission to maintain schedules resulting in cargo being left at the port, EEPC India (formerly Engineering Export Promotion Council) said.
Nhava Sheva and JNPT are the country’s busiest terminals and any disruption there impacts the export and import cargo badly. The strike and go-slow have resulted in roll- over of containers leading to more inventories at the port and port congestion. It is also learnt that the port is advancing cut-off without any prior intimation to trade and putting restrictions on ‘move count on boxes’ for Shipping Lines resulting in shut-outs, rollovers and congestion.
“According to feedback from our members, at times shipping lines are discharging only imports and not allowing export movement resulting in inventory in the port. This is leading to Port Authority taking steps such as closure of gates in advance before the scheduled cut off time and not allowing fresh containers to Gate in,” EEPC India Chairman said.
He said the strike and port closure affects the transaction cost of exports causing exporter heavy losses per container.
Because of these disruptions, containers are required to unload at Buffer yards on chargeable basis. There is no guarantee of moving the containers for the scheduled departure because of heavy rush and the time slot allotted to move the container by the Port. Moreover, transporter is required to wait for unloading of the container affecting the turn around time of vehicles, which is a loss to the industry.
Shah said at a time when “we need to desperately keep the growth tempo in exports, we cannot allow any disruption in exports.” (KNN/PC)
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