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India Issues Port SOP for Middle East Crisis, Ensures 24x7 Nodal Officers

The Ministry of Ports has issued a Standard Operating Procedure for India's major ports to manage potential disruptions from the West Asia conflict. Key measures include appointing a 24x7 available nodal officer as a single point of contact to resolve operational issues within 24 hours. The SOP facilitates additional storage for affected cargo, priority berthing for ad-hoc vessels, and extra bunkering capacity. These steps aim to ensure smooth cargo and vessel operations through extensive stakeholder coordination.

Key Points: India's Port SOP for West Asia Conflict: 24x7 Nodal Officers

  • 24x7 nodal officer as SPOC
  • Time-bound issue resolution within 24 hours
  • Cargo facilitation & storage measures
  • Priority for export cargo returning from Middle East
  • Regular stakeholder meetings
2 min read

Ministry of Ports issues standard operating procedure for major ports amid West Asia conflict

Ministry of Ports issues SOP for major ports amid Middle East conflict, mandating 24x7 nodal officers and cargo facilitation to ensure smooth trade.

"Ports have been directed to appoint a Nodal Officer... who will act as a Single Point of Contact for operational issues. - Ministry of Ports"

New Delhi, March 9

In view of the geopolitical disturbance in the Middle East, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has issued a Standard Operating Procedure for major ports to address potential disruptions and ensure smooth handling of affected cargo and vessels.

According to the ministry, the SOP outlines operational and facilitation measures to help ports manage cargo flows efficiently during the ongoing situation. The ministry issued the SOP over the weekend.

Ports have been directed to appoint a Nodal Officer at the level of Head of Department (HOD) or Deputy HOD, who will act as a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for operational issues arising at ports.

The officer will be available 24x7, and ports will publish the officer's name, designation, contact number and email ID on their websites.

The nodal officer will coordinate with relevant authorities to resolve issues in a time-bound manner, ensuring that decisions or actions are completed within 24 hours.

In cases involving other agencies, such as customs notification of new areas or bonding of additional storage space, the process will be completed within 72 hours.

The SOP also includes several cargo facilitation measures to minimise disruption to trade. Ports may permit storage of cargo destined for the Middle East as trans-shipment cargo during the affected period and allot additional storage space if required during the crisis period.

They may also facilitate berthing of ad-hoc call vessels for dropping or picking Middle East-bound transshipment cargo.

Ports may also give priority consideration for export cargo returning from the Middle East and facilitate additional bunkering capacity wherever feasible to meet potential demand.

The ministry also said major port chairpersons will hold periodic meetings with stakeholders, including shipping lines, exporters, terminal operators, the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) and customs authorities, to monitor the situation and address concerns.

The SOP was issued after extensive consultations with stakeholders, the ministry said, and aims to ensure that Indian ports remain prepared to manage cargo and vessel operations smoothly amid the evolving geopolitical situation in the Middle East.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Good to see the government being prepared. The Middle East route is vital for our trade. The priority for returning export cargo is a thoughtful measure. Hope the ports implement this smoothly.
A
Aman W
SOPs are fine on paper. The real test is execution. Will the nodal officer actually be reachable at 2 AM? And "within 72 hours" with other agencies sounds like a recipe for delays. We need faster action in a crisis.
S
Sarah B
As someone working in logistics, the coordination with customs and MMD is the key. If they can truly streamline that within 72 hours, it will prevent massive backlogs. The stakeholder meetings are a positive sign.
V
Vikram M
Jai Hind! This is how a nation secures its economic interests. Preparing for disruption shows foresight. The additional bunkering capacity point is smart - fuel is always a concern during such times. 🇮🇳
K
Kavya N
Hope the contact details are properly published and updated. Often, websites are not maintained. This SOP will only work if the information flow to businesses is seamless.

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