JNPA asks terminals to waive storage fee for West Asia-bound containers stranded at port

Mumbai: Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has asked private container terminal operators to waive storage charges for West Asia-bound export containers stranded inside the port due to geopolitical disruptions affecting cargo movement.

The country's premier container-handling port, in a communication dated March 9, instructed container terminal operators to provide a "100% rebate on ground rent/dwell time charges up to 15 days" for affected containers.

The waiver applies to West Asia-bound containers that were already lying inside terminals from February 28 or those that had gated in until 7 am on March 8, according to the port authority's traffic department.


The relief follows a standard operating procedure issued by the ports, shipping and waterways ministry to mitigate hardships faced by port users due to "ongoing geopolitical disturbances in the Middle East."

As part of the measures, JNPA said it is coordinating with terminal operators to facilitate storage of the affected cargo until shipments resume. "JNPA in coordination with container terminal operators are facilitating storage of stranded containers in the port premises till the cargo is shipped out," the communication said.

ET reviewed the communication.

The port is consulting customs authorities and allowing export containers destined for West Asia from other locations to be stored at JNPA terminals as temporary trans-shipment cargo. Additional storage space is being provided to terminals to stack the containers.

For refrigerated cargo, terminal operators have been instructed to waive "80% of the reefer plugin charges for 15 days" for affected containers.