JNPA Halves its Stranded Container Backlog as Sonowal Chairs Emergency Review

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority has cleared roughly half of the containers that were stranded at India’s busiest container gateway since the West Asia conflict erupted, reporting a significant reduction in the backlog following sustained operational intervention and a high-level ministerial review chaired by Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday.

When the crisis began on 28 February, the number of stranded export containers at JNPA stood at approximately 5,000 TEUs. By 16 March, that figure had fallen to around 2,500 TEUs. Perishable and reefer cargo, which was initially the most pressing concern with 2,000 TEUs stuck, had been reduced to around 800 TEUs during the same period. The number of vessels at anchorage — a key indicator of port congestion — dropped from nine to four, and approximately 16,000 TEUs of containers were dispatched to Middle East destinations over the 20-day period.

The ministerial review on Thursday brought together shipping lines, terminal operators, and trade bodies to assess the continuing situation and share on-ground updates. Officials noted that JNPA currently has adequate storage capacity, with only around 50 per cent of container holding space occupied — providing headroom to absorb further disruption if needed.

The relief package JNPA has implemented is multi-layered. Terminal operators have been directed to waive 100 per cent of ground rent and dwell time charges for stranded export containers, and 80 per cent of reefer plug-in charges for perishable cargo. Customs at Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House (JNCH) have enabled ‘Back to Town’ movement of export cargo even without the Export General Manifest (EGM) being filed — a significant process relaxation. The port has also facilitated ad-hoc vessel calls to alternative Gulf ports on the eastern side of the Strait of Hormuz, particularly Fujairah, Khor Fakkan, Sohar, Muscat, and Salalah, to keep cargo moving.

New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) has also introduced a parallel relief package, offering waivers on ground rent and reefer plug-in charges for stranded export containers, additional storage space, and coordination with Customs for temporary transshipment cargo. NMPA has separately waived Cargo Related Charges (CRC) for crude oil and LPG cargo until 31 March 2026, reflecting the port’s critical role as a west-coast energy gateway.