The Ministry of Shipping, Ports and Waterways has directed ports across India to allow temporary storage of cargo bound for the Middle East under the category of transhipment during the ongoing disruption. It has also asked port authorities to consider waiving or reducing port-related charges during the crisis period.
According to officials, the Director General of Shipping — the country’s statutory maritime authority — is scheduled to hold a meeting with ship owners, cargo owners and charterers on Friday to discuss the situation and possible measures.
Ports have been instructed to permit cargo meant for the Middle East to be stored as transhipment cargo during the affected period and to arrange additional storage space if required to manage the accumulation of goods until regular shipping schedules resume.
Authorities have also been asked to facilitate berthing for ad-hoc vessels that may arrive to drop off or pick up Middle East-bound transhipment cargo. The move is intended to give operational flexibility to shipping lines and exporters dealing with schedule disruptions, TNIE reported.
The ministry further directed ports to quickly facilitate the “Back to Town” movement of export cargo currently lying within port premises, in coordination with Customs. It also emphasised priority handling of perishable cargo to prevent spoilage.
Freight operators and exporters have raised concerns about mounting losses, especially for perishable goods that have remained stuck at ports. Several exporters and freight forwarders have also pointed to rising storage charges at terminals, demurrage imposed by shipping lines, and other port-related costs as cargo remains stationary.
In response, the government has asked ports to consider requests from users for reduction, waiver or remission of certain charges during the crisis period, with decisions to be taken on a case-by-case basis.
Port authorities have additionally been directed to coordinate closely with agencies such as Customs, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), and other relevant bodies to ensure that these measures are implemented smoothly and in a timely manner.