The Chennai & Ennore Ports Steamer Agents Association (CHENSAA) successfully conducted its 68th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on July 25, 2025, in Chennai.
Chairman Mr. Y. Leeladharan emphasized that CHENSAA remains committed to facilitating trade through improved compliance, ease of doing business, and efficient cargo movement. He assured that the key issues raised during the AGM will be suitably represented to the concerned authorities.
Mr. Leeladharan presented the Annual Report for 2024–2025, outlining the initiatives and notable achievements of the Association during the year. He expressed gratitude to his team for their dedicated contributions.
He extended his sincere thanks to the Principal Chief Commissioner of Customs, Commissioners, and officials of Chennai Customs for their continued guidance. He also acknowledged the support from the Chennai Port Authority, CITPL, CCTL, Kamarajar Port, Adani Ennore, and Kattupalli Ports/Terminals.
Mr. Leeladharan appreciated the joint discussions held with key trade bodies such as CCBA, NACFS, FIEO, various Chambers, CII, Ports, Customs, Immigration, Port Health Officer, MMD, and other statutory authorities, which helped streamline procedures and improve operational efficiency.
Regarding the SCMTR (Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations) implementation, he congratulated CBIC officials for successfully rolling out the system in many ports, including SAM/SEI and SDM/SDN. However, he raised concerns about the practical challenges in filing manifests, especially when vessels call multiple ports and information like Bills of Lading is unavailable in advance due to confidentiality concerns among charterers and importers.
He urged CBIC to examine these issues and consider procedural relaxation to avoid penalizing agents for situations beyond their control. He recommended organizing nationwide outreach programs to educate stakeholders, including importers and exporters, on statutory requirements and the importance of timely documentation. He also suggested regular media campaigns to ensure wider awareness.
On the matter of Sea-to-Sea Transshipment Containers, Mr. Leeladharan appealed to the Ministry of Shipping and CBIC to dispense with the Export Transshipment Permit (ETP) procedure for such containers. He emphasized that these additional documentation steps delay container connections to mother vessels at gateway ports, discouraging trade. He pointed out that such procedures are not required in major transshipment hubs outside India, and removing them here could significantly boost cargo volumes.
He advocated allowing direct manifest filing on ICEGATE by shipping lines, excluding redundant documentation at origin and gateway ports. This, he said, would streamline operations and ensure exporters receive benefits like Duty Drawback and IGST refunds more efficiently.
The AGM saw a strong turnout from CHENSAA members, reflecting the collective commitment to advancing trade facilitation and port operations in the region.
