Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), the premier container port in India, continues to scale up its growth trajectory with new business initiatives between friendly neighbouring countries. A new direct service, Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT)-JNPT-Kandla-SCT, for cargo shipment, has been added to the existing shipping service operating between the UAE and India.
Speaking on this new service, Mr Sanjay Sethi, IAS, Chairman, JNPT, said, “As India’s leading container port, JNPT is constantly innovating and improving its operational efficiency and scaling up its business capacity. We are committed to provide seamless customer service and ease of doing business for the ex-im community and this allows us to be the preferred choice as a business partner in the maritime sector. The UAE is developing its ports and is becoming a key destination for global trade due to its strategic access to Asia, Africa and Europe. Thus, strengthening the maritime ties between both countries will be helpful for developing the maritime sector in the Asian region and opening new avenues for growth in the global market as well.”
The vessel M.V. Port Klang, from Sunmarine Shipping Services, made its maiden voyage from Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT) to JNPT (JNPCT) on March 17, 2019. This vessel is said to offer the fastest direct express service between Sharjah’s Port Khalid and JNPT and other ports in the Western India region, with only three days transit time from the last port in India to Sharjah, highlighted a release.
JNPT is the only Indian port amongst the top 30 container ports globally and is now further enhancing its operational capabilities and efficiency to drive the next phase of its transformation. It has completed dredging of the navigational channels to 15 m, which will allow larger vessels of more than 12,500 TEUs to dock at the port. Vessels are getting bigger in the global market to account for the increasing demand of business, and this strategic move will equip JNPT to handle these large consignments, automatically leading to more container traffic and business growth.
Besides, JNPT-SEZ is developing a Free Trade Warehouse which will accentuate the port-based SEZ as a preferred investment destination for both domestic and global companies. In addition, on the port operational front, over 48 per cent of the cargo traffic is routed through the DPD service and with ITT (Inter-Terminal Transit) facility allowing container trucks access to all terminals from inside the port, the ex-im community has saved fuel worth over Rs 10.8 crore and also saved overall trade cost of nearly Rs 211 crore till date, the release emphasised, adding that many such smart initiatives, including the digitalisation of processes and adoption of technology to automate processes, have led to significant reduction in the dwell time which has been a boon for the ex-im community.
Also, recently the first export consignment from Afghanistan reached JNPT via Chabahar Port, which marked the beginning of a maritime partnership between both countries for trade and economic growth, the release added.
