JNPT seeks government's help in port charges issue

MUMBAI: JNPT, the country's largest container port, will seek the shipping ministry's intervention to lower port charges it pays to Mumbai Port Trust for usage of its navigational channel and safety facilities.

Mumbai Port had earlier rejected a proposal from JNPT, which had sought reduction of the port charges as it is already bearing majority of the cost for a joint channel dredging.

"They (Mumbai Port) do not want to reduce the rate and we want the shipping ministry to intervene to decide on the same," said SN Maharana, chief manager of operations at JNPT.

Currently, JNPT pays more than 39% of port charges collected at the port to Mumbai Port, amounting to 100 crore for usage of navigational channel owned by Mumbai Port and for a vessel traffic service deployed by Mumbai Port to track vessel movement and navigational safety. It has been demanding a reduction of the charges to 25%.