Mumbai, March 7 The Union Ministry of Shipping, Ports, and Waterways has proposed that ports consider requests regarding reductions, waivers, or remission of charges, including vessel change charges, and has also introduced a standard operating procedure (SOP) for them to address issues arising from the West Asia crisis.
As part of the SOP, which followed extensive consultations with all stakeholders on Friday, each port will appoint a nodal officer at the level of head of department or deputy head of department, who will be the single point of contact for addressing issues that come up for consideration at the ports.
The nodal officer will be responsible for taking up the matter with the relevant authority and ensuring that action is taken within 24-72 hours.
Additionally, according to the SOP, port chairpersons should hold periodical meetings with stakeholders such as shipping lines, exporters, terminal operators, customs, among others, to closely monitor the situation and address legitimate concerns.
The ministry also stated that the port may consider various facilitation measures, such as considering requests from users regarding reductions, waivers, or remission of storage rent and vessel change charges, on a case-by-case basis, depending on the prevailing circumstances at the port.
It also said that the port may consider allowing the storage of cargo destined for the Middle East as transshipment cargo during the affected period, in addition to allocating additional storage area, if required, for storing such cargo during the crisis.
Ports may also consider facilitating the berthing of ad-hoc vessels for dropping or picking up Middle East-bound transshipment cargo and expediting the movement of export cargo from port premises in coordination with Customs, it said.
In addition, ports may provide priority handling for perishable cargo to prevent deterioration and prioritize export cargo returning from the Middle East, in addition to facilitating additional bunkering capacity, wherever feasible, to meet potential demand, the ministry said.
Ports have been directed to coordinate closely with agencies such as Customs, DGFT, and other relevant authorities to ensure the implementation of these measures within the stipulated timelines, it stated.