Box volume spikes cause trade flow snarls at Nhava Sheva Terminals

Container truckers are taking excessively longer than usual to gate in and out containers, a problem drivers noted has made container pickups and drops chaotic over the past couple of weeks. The congestion is especially concerning at APM Terminals’ Gateway Terminals India (GTI) and DP World’s Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSCIT) in the Nhava Sheva Port.

“This congestion is ongoing and has resulted in an average delay of 6-8 hours for every export/import and empty container being gated in or out of the NSICT and GTI terminals,” said Nhava Sheva Container Operators’ Welfare Association (NSCOWA) in a trade notice.

NSCOWA represents container trailers handling local container moves. The group added: “Despite efforts to inform the trade community through daily traffic advisories issued by NSCOWA and other stakeholders, these delays due to congestion are significantly impacting the entire export/import cycle and, consequently, the delivery schedules to importers.”

NSCOWA pointed out: “It is important to note that these delays are not attributable to our member transporters.”

Container freight station (CFS) owners in Nhava Sheva have also complained about their inability to clear cargo from the dock, which they noted has significant cost implications for cargo owners.

Highlighting the concern, the Container Freight Stations Association of India (CFSAI) noted that all the port terminals are reporting high yard inventory levels.

According to the association: “Whilst the trade is being sensitised through daily traffic advisories issued by CFSAI and some other stakeholders, the delays due to traffic congestion are impacting the entire export-import cycle, increasing the turnaround time of trailers substantially and thereby, the ultimate delivery to importers as also the connection of exports to terminals.”

Leading terminal operators across ports have a tough time handling vessel berthing windows in the wake of constant ETA [expected time of arrival] changes linked to the longer transits around southern Africa and delays at preceding ports of call, industry sources explained.

Meanwhile, congestion is not limited to Nhava Sheva. Mundra Port has also had to incur the wrath of container rail companies because of train turnaround slowdowns. Nhava Sheva and Mundra together account for the majority of Indian containerised freight movements.