SOPs at Mormugao port to aid cargo ships hit by W Asia strife

Panaji: The Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) has put in place SOPs to assist shipping lines, exporters and terminal operators hit by the West Asia conflict.MPA has appointed its traffic manager Jerome Clement as the nodal officer as a single point of contact to address issues related to the trade and shipping disruption. MPA chairman N Vinodkumar will hold periodic meetings with stakeholders to closely monitor the situation and address concerns.“The officer shall be responsible for taking up the matter with the competent authority and ensure that the decision or action is met in 24 hours. In case issues require involvement of other agencies, like Customs notification of new area or bonding of new storage area, etc, shall be completed within 72 hours,” the SOPs said.As additional facilitation measures, the MPA will permit the storage of cargo destined for West Asia as transshipment cargo during the affected period and allot additional storage area during the crisis period.Tensions and military conflicts in key maritime corridors, particularly the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, have forced cargo vessels, oil tankers and bulk carriers to suspend operations, alter their routes or cluster at safer transshipment hubs.Thousands of export containers are reportedly stuck at ports, with perishable cargo among most impacted. Due to this, ports have been asked to provide relief to shipping lines and exporters that are impacted by the crisis.The ministry of ports and shipping has asked the MPA to coordinate closely with agencies such as Customs, directorate general of foreign trade and other authorities to ensure implementation of the SOPs within the stipulated timelines.Port officials said that the Union ministry will review the situation and decide whether the SOPs are to be continued or modified. The MPA has also been asked to submit a daily action-taken report to the Union ministry.