CARRIERS serving Mumbai's Nhava Sheva Port (JNPT) have warned customers of long truck queues and excessive gate delays affecting cargo flow as the terminal copes with truck and vessel bunching, reports New York's Journal of Commerce.
Delays began to build after an equipment upgrade project to enhance productivity and capacity at APM Terminals Mumbai, also known as Gateway Terminals India (GTI), put one of its berths out of commission for six months.
This created pressure on other terminals in the harbour. Upgrades involve the addition of six ship-to-shore and three rail-mounted gantry cranes that APMT believes will boost its annual throughput 10 per cent to 2.2 million TEU.
Maersk (India) told customers that because of berthing window complications, vessel bunching has become a major concern at JNPT and that all terminals are experiencing high yard inventory levels.
'There is a huge traffic queue outside the Nhava Sheva port,' the carrier said. 'This has also resulted in bunching of vessels, affecting sailing schedules.'
Sources at other major liners, including Hapag-Lloyd and Cosco Shipping, have echoed those concerns.
APMT Mumbai said it is making every effort to mitigate the impact of capacity constraints.
'Our teams are working in close coordination with stakeholders to accommodate maximum calls at one berth by reducing vessel idle times, increasing operational efficiency, and being flexible to ensure a minimal impact,' the company said in a statement.
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Delays began to build after an equipment upgrade project to enhance productivity and capacity at APM Terminals Mumbai, also known as Gateway Terminals India (GTI), put one of its berths out of commission for six months.
This created pressure on other terminals in the harbour. Upgrades involve the addition of six ship-to-shore and three rail-mounted gantry cranes that APMT believes will boost its annual throughput 10 per cent to 2.2 million TEU.
Maersk (India) told customers that because of berthing window complications, vessel bunching has become a major concern at JNPT and that all terminals are experiencing high yard inventory levels.
'There is a huge traffic queue outside the Nhava Sheva port,' the carrier said. 'This has also resulted in bunching of vessels, affecting sailing schedules.'
Sources at other major liners, including Hapag-Lloyd and Cosco Shipping, have echoed those concerns.
APMT Mumbai said it is making every effort to mitigate the impact of capacity constraints.
'Our teams are working in close coordination with stakeholders to accommodate maximum calls at one berth by reducing vessel idle times, increasing operational efficiency, and being flexible to ensure a minimal impact,' the company said in a statement.
SeaNews Turkey