JNPA says container terminal operations going smoothly after CFSAI, BCBA issue advisory

New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has clarified that all its five container terminals are functioning smoothly and continue to operate at full efficiency, in the wake of recent advisories issued by Container Freight Station Association of India (CFSAI) and Brihanmumbai Custom Brokers Association (BCBA).

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JNPA also said that there is no backlog of trailers waiting for loading at terminals. The terminals have deployed additional manpower to expedite container delivery. However, the number of trailers arriving at the terminals has reduced due to shortage of drivers.

The five terminals at JNPA are Nhava Sheva Free Port Terminal, Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal, Nhava Sheva (India) Gateway Terminal, PSA International-operated Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals Pvt Ltd and APM Gateway Terminals India Pvt Ltd.

JNPA also reiterated that port operations are not congested.

However, the pendency of import containers will only be resolved when container freight stations (CFSs) and custom brokers (CBs) urgently mobilize sufficient trailers and drivers.

"We urge CFSs and Custom Brokers to immediately arrange adequate trailers and drivers to ensure smooth evacuation of import containers from the terminal yards," it said in a statement.

On an average, JNPA receives 10-“12 container vessels daily, handling approximately 22,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) of containerized cargo (imports and exports) every day, the port authorities said.

Gate operations remain steady, with around 20,000 TEUs moving by road and 2,000 TEUs by rail, it added.

JNPA's total container storage capacity is 1.76 lakh TEUs.

Under normal conditions, occupancy ranges between 90,000-1,00,000 TEUs.

Due to increased transshipment cargo following geopolitical disturbances in West Asia, occupancy as on May 7 was recorded at 1.18 lakh TEUs, which is only 67 per cent occupancy.

Of this, only 26,000 TEUs are transshipment containers, which are not causing congestion. The higher occupancy is solely due to delays in trailer mobilization by CFSs and CBs, the port authorities clarified.

Stating that import containers stacked at terminal yards are delivered only when trailers are placed by CFSs or CBs, JNPA said it is their responsibility to ensure adequate trailer availability.

If drivers are unavailable due to vacation or absenteeism, CFSs and CBs must arrange immediate alternatives, the port authorities said, adding terminals have deployed additional manpower to expedite container delivery.

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There is no situation where trailers are waiting for loading; rather, the number of trailers arriving has reduced due to driver shortages, it said.

JNPA said that it has taken various proactive measures including facilitating evacuation of containers by rail to nearby CFSs with rail sidings and coordinating with Customs for expedited approvals to ensure smooth operations.

The port authorities also said they are assisting trade by arranging dedicated trains from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh to bring back drivers currently on vacation.

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