India: JNPT Maintains 80% Of Import Activity During April 2020

Overcoming the impact of COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown challenges, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), India’s premier container port registered a throughput of 283,802 TEUs in container handling. The import container volume of April 2020 is 80% of the imports handled in April 2019 and overall throughput is 63% of the cargo handled during Apr 2019.

With factories in the hinterland opening up due to the revised lockdown norms issued by the Government of India, exports are also picking up. JN Port handled total of 167 vessels in April 2020 and the overall turnaround time on Port a/c improved to 33 hrs from 39 hrs LY.

This has been the result of the support of all the terminals, Shipping Lines, Container Fright Stations (CFSs), Custom House Agents (CHAs), Transporters, CONCOR, Private Container Train Operators, Truck Transporters, BPCL Liquid Cargo Jetty & associated Tank Farms, Empty Yard Operators, Partner Government Agencies like FSSAI, Plant Quarantine linked to Port Operations who remain operational and continue to operate as per schedule to help the port perform its duties during these difficult times.

Representation Image – Credits: wikimedia.org

JNPT has taken various measures to limit the impact of the outbreak while also protecting the trade channel from any disruption. The port announced an extension of waiver/remission/relaxations at all the Container Terminals at JN Port from April 15 to May 3. Some of the proactive measures taken by JNPT include extended relief to the trade in order to support Port users and end users like – No dwell time charges will be levied for all import/export containers moved by road and rail (CFS/DPD/Empty/ICD), No shifting charges will be levied for change of mode (i.e. truck to rail or rail to truck) and No shifting charges will be levied for DPD containers moved by rail after 48 hours to ICD Mulund or ICD Tarapur from April 13 as they have been declared as ‘extended port gates’ of JN Port.

In the wake of this crisis Port has also prepared an action plan for avoiding congestion and created sufficient storage capacities inside and outside the Port. Extended Port gate facility has been made available for DPD containers at Mulund and Boisar. Additional storage capacity has also been created at CWC, Dronagiri node where cargo is being moved through En-block movement. Shri Sanjay Sethi, IAS, Chairman, JNPT said, “In the month of April JNPT handled 499 container trains, making it the highest number of container trains handled in a particular month.

This also resulted in increasing the rail coefficient during the month to 22.39 % against the previous FY monthly average of 16.04%. This is a result of the perseverance of our workforce and in time diligent effort and support of all the stakeholder of JN Port. Our commitment towards ensuring that trade doesn’t come to a standstill even during the lockdown and has resulted in JNPT achieving these numbers. The entire family of JNPT will put in efforts to constantly evolve our operational efficiency and the port’s performance by maintaining all the safety protocols.” The port has undertaken several preventive measures to equip and protect its workforce against respiratory viruses and other potential diseases.

Port is also carrying out extensive community disinfectant spraying and sanitation drive in all its nearby villages too to help put a strong fight against COVID 19. JNPT has been diligently deploying all the sanitary guidelines issued for the safety of its workforce with regular fogging and spraying of all buses. Also the port has provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the pilots and has been carrying out regular fogging and disinfecting of all JNPT terminals.

The port authority has provided accommodation for the staff of terminals, drivers etc. in the Port township, started free Bus shuttle services for the staff of essential services stakeholders for movement in the port area and CFSs, Empty Yards. JN Port is also distributing specially made meals to the truck drivers who have been working tirelessly to keep the operations going at the Centralized Parking Plaza, GTI Holding Yard, NSICT Holding Yard & Parking No.1. With the support of all the stakeholders and local authorities JNPT is constantly working towards facilitating ease in doing business for the Trade and has firmly anchored itself as the major catalyst for trade in the country even during these extremely challenging times.

Reference: jnport.gov.in

Source: Maritime Shipping News