Shipping and trade fraternity calls for urgent action on worsening delays at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata

Vessel Operators, CALFO, Container Carriers and Trade Bodies have raised serious concerns over prolonged delays and mounting inefficiencies at Kolkata Port, urging the Chairman of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, to take immediate corrective measures to restore operational normalcy and safeguard regional trade.

Operators report that Container vessels are facing considerable waiting times / pre-berthing delays of around 6 to 7 days for working berths, severely impacting their service schedules.

The lack of adequate handling equipments like Mobile Harbour Cranes has further reduced port efficiency and increased turnaround times of Vessels to around 9-10 days.

The cumulative effect of these issues has resulted in higher operational costs, underutilization of capacity, and significant financial strain on Vessel Operators.

With the forthcoming winter season and reduced river drafts, the situation is expected to deteriorate further wherein Vessels will also face loadability issues.

Stakeholders warn that the current inefficiencies are forcing vessel / container operators and Trade to divert their cargo to neighbouring private ports and terminals, leading to a decline in cargo volume and competitiveness at Kolkata Port.

Despite repeated appeals, operators note that no immediate remedial measures have been implemented by Kolkata Port Authorities or their service providers to improve the situation.

Furthermore, the prolonged pre-berthing delays are severely disrupting liner schedules for Feeder operators, resulting in missed transhipment connections, container backlogs at Transhipment Hubs, and cascading shipment delays to their final destination. Time-sensitive cargoes are facing rejection at discharge ports due to delivery failures, causing reputational and financial losses to exporters and the wider trade community.

The deficiencies at Kolkata Port are affecting every level of the supply chain — from Vessel operators to Exporters, who have urged Kolkata Port to act decisively and implement immediate operational improvements before more trade shifts away from Kolkata.

The Port Users have reiterated their commitment to cooperate with the Kolkata Port Authorities to identify and execute actionable solutions that can improve port performance, restore confidence, and ensure the smooth movement of trade through one of India’s key maritime gateways.