Leading shippers diverting cargo from JNPT
Serious congestion conditions have returned to haunt India’s largest container terminal at Jawahar Lal Nehru Port. According to an international agency report, the leading shippers are diverting their cargo to neighboring west coast ports like Pipavav and Mundra to avoid inordinate delays in the delivery of cargo.
The volume at the country’s largest terminal has significantly surged in the recent months resulting in severe congestion. According to an estimate, the volume for the April-May period at the terminal has shown a surge of 21 percent from a year earlier to 751,000 TEUs.
The agency has reported that Maersk Line, the largest international shipper in Indian waters, has begun to divert all shipments moving to and from northern inland container depots through the Port of Pipavav until further notice. “Unfortunately, the congestion is causing service delays for our customers, and we are concerned that, with the monsoon and peak seasons approaching, it will be some time before the situation normalizes,” a Maersk representative was quoted as saying. The Danish carrier added that the shortage of harbor pilots and handling equipment at the terminal are also contributing to the congestion.
Another major shipping line CMA CGM is also reported to be contemplating on similar lines. It has indicated of diverting its cargo from JNPT to Mundra, The port authorities have now asked the state-owned rail operator Container Corp. of India to deploy additional trains to ensure expeditious clearance of the piled up inventory.
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