By THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM|Mumbai | March 9, 2026, | In response to the evolving geopolitical disturbances in the Middle East affecting global shipping routes and export cargo movement, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to all major ports to mitigate the impact on India’s maritime trade. Acting swiftly on the directive, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has constituted a dedicated task force to coordinate with key stakeholders and address operational challenges arising from the situation.

The task force comprises representatives including the Joint DGFT, Additional Commissioner of Customs, CGM (Traffic) JNPA, and the Deputy Director General of Directorate General of Shipping. To ensure seamless communication and coordination, Girish Thomas, CGM (Traffic), JNPA, has been designated as the Single Point of Contact for all trade-related concerns stemming from the disruptions.

The disturbances in the Middle East have affected vessel schedules and export cargo movement, prompting intensified collaboration between port authorities and trade stakeholders. Under the leadership of Gaurav Dayal, Chairman, JNPA, and Ravish Kumar Singh, Deputy Chairman, JNPA, the port authority is conducting regular consultations with shipping lines, exporters, terminal operators, Customs officials and maritime bodies. Key trade organisations including Brihanmumbai Custom Brokers Association (BCBA), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Container Shipping Lines Association (CSLA), Maritime Association of Nationwide Shipping Agencies (MANSA), Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI) and transporters’ associations are being engaged to monitor the situation closely and resolve operational concerns.

To support the EXIM community and ease congestion at the port, JNPA has rolled out a series of facilitation measures. These include temporary transshipment storage for cargo bound for the Middle East, allocation of additional storage areas at terminals wherever required, and the facilitation of ad-hoc vessel calls to move cargo to alternative ports on the eastern side of the Strait of Hormuz, such as Fujairah and Khor Fakkan in the UAE, and Sohar, Muscat and Salalah in Oman. Priority handling is also being extended to perishable cargo and export shipments returning from Middle Eastern destinations.

A major facilitation step has been introduced by Customs authorities at Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House (JNCH), enabling the ‘Back to Town’ (BTT) movement of export containers even in cases where the Export General Manifest (EGM) has not been filed. Containers with intact seals will be permitted for BTT after basic verification. Containers located at the port’s central premises require only e-seal verification, while those at Container Freight Stations undergo limited inspection linked to the shipping bill. The usual detailed physical examination has been waived, and any BTT-related fees or penalties have also been removed.

In addition, consultations with the Reefer Transporters Association have confirmed the availability of adequate trailers for the evacuation of reefer as well as other containers requiring BTT movement. This step is expected to ensure smooth and timely evacuation of containers, particularly for sensitive agricultural exports such as bananas, grapes and other perishables with limited shelf life.

Commenting on the evolving situation, Gaurav Dayal noted that JNPA is closely monitoring developments and remains fully committed to supporting the EXIM community. Continuous consultations with the Ministry, Customs authorities, terminal operators and trade stakeholders are underway to explore practical solutions that can ease cargo movement and minimise disruptions while ensuring seamless port operations.

These coordinated efforts have already begun yielding positive results. The number of stranded containers at JNPA has reduced significantly from around 5,000 TEUs on 1 March to nearly 3,200 TEUs on 8 March. Similarly, stranded perishable containers have declined from about 2,000 to nearly 1,000.

JNPA continues to work closely with the Ministry, shipping lines, terminal operators and the wider trade community to further reduce the backlog and maintain the smooth flow of cargo. Additional facilitation measures are also being explored to strengthen support for India’s EXIM sector during this challenging period.