The number of containers stranded at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has declined significantly over the past week as authorities intensified coordination with exporters, shipping lines and government agencies to manage trade disruptions linked to the evolving geopolitical situation in the Middle East.
According to port officials, the volume of stranded containers at JNPA fell from around 5,000 TEUs on March 1 to about 3,200 TEUs by March 8. The number of stranded perishable containers also dropped sharply during the same period, from roughly 2,000 to nearly 1,000 TEUs, reflecting improved cargo evacuation and operational coordination.
The improvement follows the issuance of a standard operating procedure (SOP) by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways aimed at mitigating the impact of geopolitical disturbances in the Middle East on India’s maritime trade. In response, JNPA established a dedicated task force to streamline trade facilitation and coordinate response measures.
The task force includes representatives from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House, JNPA’s traffic department and the Directorate General of Shipping.
Shri Girish Thomas, Chief General Manager (Traffic) at JNPA, has been designated as the single point of contact to oversee coordination and communication related to trade disruptions arising from the Middle East situation. The disruptions have affected vessel schedules and the movement of export cargo to the region, prompting closer collaboration between port authorities and industry stakeholders.
JNPA Chairman Gaurav Dayal and Deputy Chairman Ravish Kumar Singh have been holding regular consultations with shipping lines, exporters, terminal operators, customs officials and maritime authorities. Discussions have also involved several trade bodies, including the Bombay Customs Brokers Association, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, Container Shipping Lines Association, Maritime Association of Nationwide Shipping Agencies and the Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India, as well as transporters’ associations.
To support exporters and reduce congestion, JNPA has introduced several facilitation measures. These include temporary transshipment storage for cargo bound for the Middle East, allocation of additional storage space at terminals, and facilitation of ad-hoc vessel calls to move cargo to ports east of the Strait of Hormuz. These destinations include Fujairah and Khor Fakkan in the UAE, and Sohar, Muscat and Salalah in Oman.
Authorities have also prioritised the handling of perishable cargo and export containers returning from the Middle East, while accelerating “Back to Town” (BTT) movement of export containers to ease congestion at the port.
In a significant facilitation step, customs authorities at Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House have allowed BTT movement of export cargo even when the Export General Manifest (EGM) has not yet been filed. Where container seals remain intact, permissions are granted after basic verification. Containers at the Container Port Point require only e-seal verification, while those at Container Freight Stations undergo limited checks linked to the shipping bill. Detailed physical examinations have been waived, and any BTT-related fees or penalties have also been waived.
Following consultations with the Reefer Transporters Association, authorities confirmed that adequate trailers are available to evacuate refrigerated and other containers requiring BTT movement. This is expected to facilitate the smooth evacuation of containers from the port, particularly for perishable exports such as bananas and grapes, which have shorter shelf lives.
Commenting on the situation, JNPA Chairman Gaurav Dayal said the port remains fully committed to supporting India’s export-import community.
“JNPA is closely monitoring the evolving situation and remains fully committed to supporting the EXIM community. We are in constant consultation with the ministry, customs authorities, terminal operators and trade stakeholders to explore relief measures that can ease cargo movement and minimise disruption. Our endeavour is to identify practical solutions that support exporters and ensure seamless port operations,” he said.
He added that the reduction in stranded containers reflects the impact of coordinated efforts undertaken by the port and industry stakeholders. Authorities said efforts will continue to further reduce the number of stranded containers at the earliest, with JNPA maintaining close coordination with the ministry, terminal operators, shipping lines and the trade community to ensure smooth cargo movement and sustained support to exporters.
