According to a release issued by Jawaharlal Nehru Port, recent media reports about congestion at Jawaharlal Nehru Port and shipping lines levying congestion charges are misleading and confusing to the exim trade.

The release emphasizes that there is no congestion at the Port. That is why JNP strongly opposes the levy of congestion surcharge on containers by shipping lines, the release underscores.

Its three terminals (JNP Container Terminal, Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal and Gateway Terminals India Pvt. Ltd) are making all efforts and taking all necessary steps to ensure speedy conveyance of boxes to vessels for exports, and to rail/road in case of import containers.

The release said that the average dwell period of import containers bound for CFSs at JN Port is well within the period of 1.72 days against the free period, the release emphasizes.

As regards the dwell time of ICD containers, especially those bound for TKD (New Delhi), it does not exceed 6.42 days at the individual terminals, which is again well within the free period.

Also, the Port has adequate pilots for serving vessels of varied tonnage and "no delay has been noticed" in berthing and sailing of ships at the Port, the release emphasizes.

As far as inter-terminal rail handling operation is concerned, steps have been taken by the terminals to ensure faster movement of import containers and for export containers to speedily connect to the designated vessels.

As for dealing with inbound and outbound containers, the Port has enough container yard capacity to accommodate up to 76,000 TEUs at any given time, the release highlights.

The Port management has always taken proactive measures, in conjunction with CONCOR, the private terminals, Railways etc to cater to the demands of the trade and interacts with trade representatives at regular intervals.

(Sourced from Exim News Service)