Port stakeholders play the blame game at congestion-hit JNPA

Container trade flowing through the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) in Nhava Sheva is currently facing severe operational bottlenecks, leading to significant vessel delays and missed port connections. The congestion, exacerbated by a surge in Middle East-related transhipment volumes, has created a volatile environment for major carriers like Maersk and MSC. As landside infrastructure struggles to clear the backlog, the resulting logistical gridlock at terminals like APMT Mumbai threatens the efficiency of Indian maritime supply chains and overall port productivity.

These delays raise critical concerns regarding compliance with the IMO’s International Safety Management (ISM) Code and the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006), specifically concerning hours of rest and crew fatigue management during extended anchorage periods. Under SOLAS Chapter V, Regulation 34, masters are required to ensure safe navigation and voyage planning, which becomes increasingly complex when port entry schedules are constantly disrupted. Compliance departments must monitor these operational deviations closely to ensure that prolonged waiting times do not inadvertently breach international maritime safety standards or contractual obligations.

Navigating officers and masters are most acutely affected by this ongoing congestion at JNPA. These professionals must proactively manage fuel consumption and maintain rigorous watchkeeping schedules while vessels remain at extended anchorages. It is essential for bridge teams to maintain precise logs of waiting times and communicate effectively with local agents to mitigate the risk of crew fatigue. Staying updated on port status reports is vital to ensure safe, compliant vessel operations during these periods of high logistical uncertainty.