Disruptions in vessel schedules caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East have left thousands of export containers stranded at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), prompting authorities to introduce emergency relief measures for exporters.
In an interview JNPA Chairman Gaurav Dayal said the port has intensified coordination with shipping lines, customs authorities, and trade bodies to ensure smooth cargo handling. The port is also offering waivers on charges and additional storage space to manage the disruptions.
Since the onset of the crisis around February 28, approximately 3,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) of export cargo have been stranded at the port, including 1,000 TEUs of perishable goods such as bananas, grapes, onions, and chillies. At the same time, new export containers bound for the Middle East are being cleared through available sailings or redirected to alternative ports. The port has also received around 5,000 TEUs of transshipment cargo.
Relief Measures for Exporters
Following directions from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, JNPA has set up a task force comprising the Joint DGFT, Additional Commissioner of Customs, CGM (Traffic) JNPA, and the Deputy Nautical Advisor to assess the disruption’s impact.
To ease the financial burden, JNPA has announced:
100% waiver on ground rent and dwell time charges for stranded cargo
80% waiver on reefer plug-in charges for refrigerated cargo
Managing Storage and Cargo Flow
Stranded containers are being stored in terminal yards until they can be shipped. The port has also allowed temporary storage for laden containers from other ports bound for the Middle East. Customs authorities have permitted Back to Town (BTT) movement even when Export General Manifests are not filed, with containers cleared after basic verification or limited inspection. Detailed physical checks and related fees have been waived.
Exporters can coordinate through the CGM (Traffic), who has been designated the single point of contact for queries and facilitation.
Sectoral Impact
Nearly half of the affected cargo is perishable, highlighting the urgency of timely movement. The waivers on reefer charges aim to support exporters dealing with refrigerated goods.
Shipping Adjustments
Fourteen vessel calls have been skipped or delayed due to rerouting and cancellations. To counter this, JNPA has facilitated ad hoc vessel calls directly to ports such as Fujairah and Khor Fakkan (UAE) and Sohar, Muscat, and Salalah (Oman). The Botlek Tank Terminal (BTT) facility has also helped maintain cargo flow and ease congestion.
Port Congestion Under Control
Despite the disruptions, JNPA reports that less than 50% of available yard space is currently used. Additional storage areas have been designated to handle container inflow and prevent congestion on approach roads. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and are ready to introduce further facilitation measures if needed.