MUM-11-03-2024

See Pg. 5

See

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority celebrates Historic Milestone, Marks safe arrival of M.T. Bharat at its Liquid Berth Terminal

MUMBAI: Jawaharlal Nehr u Port Authority (JNPA) which operates as a 100% landlord port is elated to announce a momentous achievement as the chemical tanker M.T Bharat, laden with precious cargo of Edible Oil, safely docked at JNPA’s newly inaugurated additional Liquid Berth Terminal LB3 at 10.30 am. The vessel was welcomed by esteemed JNPA officials, marking a significant milestone in the port's illustrious history

Cont’d Pg. 6

FFFAI Members at 4th Executive Committee Meeting interacts on "Who will police the police”

MUMBAI: The 4th Executive Committee (EC) Meeting of the Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI), which was held at NESCO, Mumbai on 28th and 29th Feb, had a very special Knowledge Session captioned "Who will police the police".

This highly interesting Session was conducted by Dr. Sujay Kantawala, who is an eminent lawyer and specializes in Constitutional and Administrative Law litigation pertaining to Indirect Taxation, Customs, Excise, Service Tax and Anti-Dumping Duty.

Cont’d Pg. 27

Mr. Sujay Kantawala speaking at the Knowledge Session held during 4th EC Meeting. Also seen Mr. Dushyant Mulani & Mr. Shankar Shinde.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority celebrates Historic Milestone, Marks safe arrival of M.T.

Bharat at its Liquid Berth Terminal

Cont’d from Pg. 3

T h e w e l c o m e ceremony was graced by esteemed officials from J N P A a l o n g w i t h distinguished representatives from BPCL and the vessel master, Igor Ignatiev This momentous occasion celebrates not only the successful arrival of M.T. Bharat but also the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders involved.

M.T Bharat stands out amongst its peers with its impressive dimensions, boasting an overall length (LOA) of 176 meters, a width of 31 meters, and a draft of 11.1 meters. Flying the Panama flag proudly, this chemical tanker signifies the epitome of efficiency and excellence in maritime transportation.

A special commendation goes out to the dedicated Marine Team whose relentless efforts and expertise played a pivotal role in turning this milestone into a reality. Their commitment to excellence and operational prowess deserves hearty congratulations.

The current combined capacity of Liquid Berth 1 and 2 is 7.2 million tonnes, while LB3 and LB4 will contribute an additional 4.2 million tonnes after full commissioning. The culmination of these developments will result in an overall capacity of 11.7 million tonnes.

Expressing happiness over the development, Mr. Unmesh Sharad Wagh, Chairman-in-charge, JNPA, said, “This achievement not only highlights the operational capabilities of JNPA but also underscores the port's role as a vital hub in facilitating international trade.

As JNPA continues to evolve and set new benchmarks in maritime excellence, this moment serves as a

testament to the organization's unwavering dedication to efficiency, safety, and innovation. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority looks forward to more such milestones, pushing the boundaries of maritime excellence and contributing to the nation's economic growth.”

In commemoration of the call of MT Bharat, the Deputy Conservator, JNPA, Shri Balasaheb Pawar and General Manager (Trafc), JNPA, Shri Girish Thomas presented a plaque to the Master of MT Bharat.

APM Terminals Pipavav sets new monthly liquid cargo volume record

PIPAVAV: Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd [APM Terminals Pipavav] created new monthly volume record for liquid cargo in February 2024. The port handled:

• 64 LPG rakes – The highest liquid rakes loaded in a month.

• staggering 1,36,690 metric tons of liquid and gas cargo in a month.

• 86903 MT of LPG – The highest LPG handled in a month. It is noteworthy that all the volumes were imported via VLGC [Very Large Gas carriers] showcasing port’s advance infrastructure to cater to the VLGCs.

This extraordinary accomplishment not only showcases our commitment to customer-centricity

through operational efficiency but also underlines our consistent assurance to enhance our own benchmarks to redefine industry standards. As the port continues to set new benchmarks, it solidifies its position as an industry leader and a reliable partner to our customers.

MSC MSC Agency Haifa. (INDUS) Hind Terminals

14/0315/03 14/03 1100 MSC Auriga IS409A P2723 292654-04/03 MSC MSC Agency U.K., North Cont., Scandinavian, Red Sea & Med Ports. Hind Terminals

21/0322/03 21/03 1100 MSC Ariane IS410A SCI CMT Barcelona,Felixstowe,Hamburg,Rotterdam,Gioia Tauro, 28/0329/03 28/03 1100 MSC Thais IS411A

Himalaya Express

Service

U. K. North Continent & Other Mediterranean Ports.

NBCL Axis Shpg. Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp & All Inland Desti. Dronagiri-1

Allcargo Allcargo Log. U.K., North Cont., Scandinavian & Med. Ports. Dron. 2 & Mul.

ICC Line Neptune Felixstowe, Hamburg,Rotterdam & other Inland Dest. GDL-3 & Dron-3

GLS Global Log. U.K., North Continent & Scandinavian Ports. JWR

Team Leader Team Leader Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Barcelona, JWR CFS Le Havre, Istanbul, Genoa.

Team Global Team Global Log. U.K., North Continent & Scandinavian Ports. Pun.Conware

15/0316/03 15/03 0900

Northern Javelin IP411A P2749

292805-06/03 MSC MSC Agency Antwerp, Le Havre, Rotterdam, Dunkirk, Felixstowe, Southampton, Hind Terminals

22/0323/03 22/03 0900 MSC Shay IP412A P2776 292670-04/03 Helsingborg, Gothenburg & Red Sea, Med, Gioia Tauro (D).

29/0330/03 29/03 0900 MSC Maeva IP413A

SCI CMT Southampton, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Dunkirk, Felixstowe, Le Havre (EPIC / IPAK)

COSCO COSCO Shpg. U.K., North Cont., Scandinavian, Red Sea & Med. Ports. Indial Indial Shpg. U.K., North Cont., Scandinavian, Red Sea & Med. Ports.

Seahorse Ship U.K., North Continent, Scandinavian Ports & Riga, Klaipede, Tallim, St.Petersburg, Genoa, Valencia, Fos. Globelink Globelink WW U.K., North Continent, Scandinavian Ports & Ashdod, Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Athens.

TSS L'Global Ag. U.K., North Continent & Scandinavian Ports. Dronagiri-2

AMI Intl. AMI Global U.K., North Cont., Scandinavian, Red Sea & Med. Ports. Dronagiri-3

Kalko Faredeal U.K., North Continent & Scandinavian Ports. Dronagiri-3 Team Leader Team Leader Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Barcelona, JWR CFS Le Havre, Istanbul, Genova.

Safewater Safewater Lines U.K., North Continent, Red Sea & Med. Ports.

Team Global Team Global Log. U.K., North Continent & Scandinavian Ports. Pun.Conware

23/0324/03 TBATBA NYK Vesta 084W P2767

16/0417/04

CMA CGM CMA CGM Ag.(I) Hamburg, Antwerp, London

Pegasus Maritime Noble Shipping US East Coast & West Coast Dronagiri-1 Kotak Global Kotak Global US East, West & Gulf Coast

Antonio,Santiago De Cuba,Mariel (Himalaya

TBATBA Nordpanther 02408W P2705 108566-01/03 QNL/Milaha PoseidonShpg. Jebel Ali, Bandar Abbas. (GIX) Speedy CFS

12/0313/03 12/03 2000 AS Sicilia 932 P2665 292215-26/02 ONE Line ONE (India) Jebel Ali.

17/0318/03 TBATBA Box Endeavour 027W UnifeederUnifeeder Jebel Ali. (MJI) Dronagiri

14/03 15/03 13/03 0200 Maersk Virginia 411W P2643 291705-19/02 Maersk Line Maersk India Jebel Ali, Salallah (Blue Nile) Maersk CFS

14/0315/03 14/03 0300 Zhong Gu Chang Sha 02409W P2672 292285-27/02 Emirates Emirates Shpg. Jebel Ali, Damman, Sohar. (West Bound)

21/0322/03 TBATBA Tabea 02410W P2754 292820-06/03 RCL/CUL Line RCL/Seahorse

28/0329/03 TBATBA Tonsberg OYS11W1 KMTC KMTC (India) Dronagiri-3 05/0406/04 TBATBA Tessa 2402W CMA CGM CMA CGM Ag. Dron-3 & Mul

SeaLead SeaLead Shpg

15/0316/03 TBATBA Arzin 1320W P2663 292201-26/02 HDASCO Armita India Bandar Abbas, Chabahar. (IIX)

15/0316/03 TBA 1000 MSC Tampico IV411A P2720 292664-04/03 MSC MSC Agency King Abdullah (INDUSA)

Abbas,

from BMCT

JAPAN PORTS from NSICT

In Port 12/03 Shimin 19E P2615 291801-20/02

Evergreen Shpg. P.Kelang, Tanjun, Pelepas, Singapore, Xingang, Balmer Law. CFS Dron. 21/0322/03 TBATBA Seattle Bridge 089E UnifeederUnifeeder Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo. Dronagiri 25/0326/03 TBATBA Ever Sigma 125E

01/0402/04 TBATBA Celsius Naples 901E

PIL India/One(I)

Hapag ISS Shpg. P.Kelang, Singapore, Xiangang, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Da Chan Bay. ULA CFS 08/0409/04 TBATBA TS Ningbo 24002E

KMTC KMTC (I) P.Kelang,Singapore,Tanjung Pelepas,Xiangang,Qingdao,Laem Chabang. Dronagiri-3 15/0416/04 TBATBA Ever Excel 173E

22/0423/04 TBATBA Ever Ethic 167E

TS Lines TS Lines (I) P.Kelang,Singapore,Tanjung Pelepas,Xiangang,Qingdao,Laem Chabang. Dronagiri-2

HMM HMM Shpg. P.Kelang(S), Singapore, Xiangang,Qingdao, Kaohsiung. Seabird CFS (CISC Service)

Samudera Samudera Shpg. P.Kelang,Singapore,Tanjung Pelepas,Xiangang,Qingdao,Laem Chabang. Dronagiri

CU Lines Seahorse Ship Port Kelang, Singapore, Haiphong, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo.

19/0320/03

Cordelia Cordelia Cont. Port Kelang, Far East & China Ports Blue Water PoseidonShpg. Shanghai, Ningbo, Qingdao. Speedy CFS

Asyad Line Seabridge Haiphong, Shekou, Laem Chabang, Port Kelang (IEX)

26/0327/03 TBATBA Wan Hai 502 E121

Hapag/RCL ISS Shpg./RCL Ag. (CIX) ULA-CFS/ 02/0403/04 TBATBA Wan Hai 507 E221

09/0410/04 TBATBA Ever Unity E198

15/0317/03 15/03 1200 Wan Hai 515 E089 P2668

292246-27/02

TS Lines TS Lines (I) South East Asia, Far East, China. Dronagiri-2

Wan Hai Wan Hai Lines Penang, Port Kelang, Hongkong, Qingdao, Shanghai, Dron-1 & Mul CFS

22/0324/03 TBATBA Wan Hai 513 E091 P2775 292973-08/03 COSCO COSCO Shpg. Ningbo, Shekou.

29/0331/03 TBATBA Wan Hai 311 E231

InterasiaInterasia (CI2)

15/0316/03 TBATBA YM Uniformity 071E P2702

292496-01/03

HMM HMM Shpg. Port Kelang, Singapore, Hongkong, Kwangyang, Pusan, Shanghai, Ningbo Seabird CFS

CU Lines Seahorse Ship Port Kelang(N), Hongkong, Qingdao, Shanghai.

ONE Line ONE (India) Port Kelang, Singapore, Leme Chabang, Kaimep, 24/0325/03 TBATBA Seaspan Adonis 074E

31/0301/04 TBATBA One Altair 064E

Yang Ming Yang Ming(I) Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou. Contl.War.Corpn.

HMM HMM Shpg. Seabird CFS (PS3 Service)

Samudera Samudera Shpg. Dronagiri

Gold Star Star Ship Port Kelang, Singapore, Hong Kong, Ningbo, Shanghai Ocean Gate

17/0318/03 TBATBA San Francisco Bridge 070E P2737 292759-05/03 ONE Line ONE (India) Port Kelang, Singapore, Laem Chabang, 24/0325/03 TBATBA X-Press Bardsey 24002E

29/0330/03 TBATBA Wide Alpha 245E

07/0408/04 TBATBA Clemens Schulte 031E

X-Press Feeders Sea Consortium Port Kelang, Singapore, Laem Chabang.

Samudera Samudera Shpg. Port Kelang, Singapore, Laem Chabang. Dronagiri

RCL RCL Ag. Port Kelang, Singapore, Laem Chabang. (TIP Service)

HMM HMM Shpg. Port Kelang(N), Port Kelang(W), Singapore. Seabird CFS

17/0319/03 TBATBA Seamax Stratford 128E P2680 292359-28/02 OOCL/RCL OOCL(I)/RCL Ag Port Kelang, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Ningbo, GDL/Dron-1 26/0328/03 TBATBA OOCL Genoa 069E

02/0404/04 TBATBA Zim Haifa 26E

APL CMA CGM Ag. Dron.-3 & Mul.

ONE Line ONE (India) Port Kelang, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Ningbo.

18/0420/04 TBATBA OOCL Hamburg 149E COSCO COSCO Shpg. Port Kelang, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Ningbo. 23/0425/04 TBATBA OOCLLuxembourg 109E Gold Star Star Ship Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai. (CIX-3)

ANL CMA CGM Ag. Port Kelang, Singapore (CIX-3) Dron.-3 & Mul. TS Lines TS Lines (I) South East Asia, Far East, China. Dronagiri-2 20/0322/03 TBATBA X-Press Cassiopeia 24012E P2681 292360-28/02 Maersk Line Maersk India Port Kelang, Tanjung Pelepas, Singapore, Hongkong, Maersk CFS

25/0326/03 TBATBA X-Press Phoenix 24013E P2726 292693-04/03 X-Press Feeders Sea Consortium Kwangyang, Pusan, Hakata, Shanghai. (NWX/FI-3)

01/0402/04 TBATBA Maersk Florence 414E Sinokor/Heung A Sinokor India Port Kelang, Singapore, Qingdao, Xingang, Pusan Seabird CFS 08/0409/04 TBATBA GSL Nicoletta 415E

In Port 12/03

TO LOAD FOR FAR EAST, CHINA & JAPAN PORTS from BMCT

OOCL(I)/RCL Ag. (CI 1)

16/0417/04 TBATBA Xin Fei Zhou 093E CU Lines Seahorse Ship Singapore, Shanghai, Ningbo, Hongkong, Taichung, Kaohsiung. In Port 11/03 MSC Capella GA410R P2654 292176-26/02

Tanjung Pelepas, Laem Chabang, Hind

Sinokor India

Kelang, Shekou, Dalian, Shanghai, Ningbo, Seabird CFS

Qingdao, Shanghai, Balmer Law. CFS Dron. 22/0323/03 TBATBA Sunny Phoenix 59E P2724 292674-04/03 KMTC/Gold Star KMTC(I)/Star Ship Ningbo, Da Chan Bay Dronagiri-3/—

04/0405/04 TBATBA Rotterdam 76E

21/0422/04 TBATBA Zoi 113E

19/0420/04 TBATBA ESL Dachan Bay 02413E

X-Press Feeders Sea Consortium

Emirates Emirates Shpg Dronagiri-2

Pendulum Exp. Aissa Maritime (NIX Service)

Blue Water Poseidon Shpg. Shanghai, Ningbo, Qingdao. Speedy CFS

15/0317/03 TBATBA ESL Nhava Sheva 2408E P2686 292379-28/02 KMTC KMTC (India) Port Kelang(W), Hongkong, Qingdao, Kwangyang, Dronagiri-3 25/0326/03 TBATBA KMTC Colombo 2402E P2761 292891-07/03 TS Lines TS Lines (I) Pusan, Ningbo, Shekou, Singapore. Dronagiri-2 30/0331/03 TBATBA Ian H 02410E

31/0301/04

14/0415/04

P2715 292480-29/02 Maersk Line Maersk India Pointe Noire, Tincan, Apapa, Tema, Cotonou, Lome, Capetown. Maersk CFS DAL Seatrade Durban, Port Elizabeth, Capetown, Maputo, Beira. (MIDAS-2)

12/0313/03 12/03 2000 AS Sicilia 932 P2665 292215-26/02 ONE Line ONE (India) Mombassa, Beira, Maputo. (MJI)

12/0313/03 12/03 1300 CMA CGM Masai Mara 0MSIDW1 P2662 292199-26/02 Maersk Line Maersk India Durban, Luanda, Pointe Noire, Aapapa, Tincan, Maersk CFS 19/0320/03 TBATBA CMA CGM Kribi 0MSIFW1 P2739 CMA CGM CMA CGM Ag. Cotonou (Direct), Port Elizabeth, Port Louis (MESAWA) Dron.-3 & Mul. 13/0314/03 12/03 23:59 Shamim 1114SP2677

HDASCO Armita India Mombas, Dar-Es-Salaam. 17/0318/03 TBATBA Maersk Cabo Verde 412S P2639

Maersk Line Maersk India Mombasa, Victoria. Maersk CFS

TBATBA Marathopolis 413S P2712 (MWE SERVICE)

292482-29/02

/ EAST, WEST & SOUTH AFRICA / AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND PORTS

17/0318/03 Morning Cello 153 292893-07/03 Eukor Car Carrier Parekh Marine Singapore, Pyungtaek.

19/0323/03 Leopold Staff 098 1084924-24/02 Chipolbrok Samsara Shpg. Singapore, Shanghai.

20/0321/03 Hoegh Seoul 133 Hoegh Autoliners Merchant Shpg. Durban, Dar Es Salaam, Maputo, Mombasa-T/S at Durban, 21/0325/03 CP Galaxy 62 Chipolbrok Samsara Shpg. Shanghai, Qingdao.

NOTICE TO CONSIGNEES

m.v. “MSC RUBY” V-UX351R I.G.M. No. 2370745 Dtd. 07-03-24 Exch rate 85.39

The above vessel has arrived on 07-03-2024 at NHAVA SHEVA (BMCT) with import cargo from CORNER BROOK, MONTREAL, CAUCEDO, PORT AU PRINCE, ALTAMIRA, BALTIMORE, BOSTON, MIAMI, NEW ORLEANS, NEW YORK, NORFOLK, SAVANNAH.

Please note the item Nos. against the B/L Nos. for NHAVA SHEVA (BMCT) delivery.

NHAVA SHEVA

Consignees are requested to kindly note that the above item nos. are for the B/L Nos. arrived for Nhava Sheva delivery.

Consignees are requested to collect Delivery Order for all imports delivered at Nhava Sheva from our Import Documentation Dept. at Nhava Sheva - DN210 / DN211 / DN212, D-Wing, 2nd Floor, NMSEZ Commercial Complex, Plot No. 6, Sector - 11, Opp. JNPT Township, Dronagiri Node, Navi Mumbai - 400 707 , India and Mumbai - 1st Floor, MSC House, Andheri Kurla Road, Andheri (East), Mumbai - 400059 on presentation of duly discharged Original Bill of Lading and payment of relevant charges.

The container detention charges will be applicable after standard free days from the discharge of containers meant for delivery at Nhava Sheva. The containers meant for movement by road to inland destinations will be dispatched upon receipt of required documents from consignees/receivers and the consignees will be liable for payment of port storage charges in case of delay in submission of these documents. Our Surveyors are M/s. Zircon Marine Services Private Limited. and usual survey conditions will apply. Consignees are also requested to note that the carriers and their agents are not bound to send individual notification regarding the arrival of the vessel or the cargo.

Incase of any query, kindly contact Import Customer Service - (022) 66378123; IN363-imports.mumbai@msc.com

Get IGM No. / ITEM No. /CFS details on our 24hrs computerized helpline No. (IVRS No.) 8169256872

You can also visit our website: www.msc.com/ind/help-centre/tools/import-general-manifest-information

As Agents :

Govt extends RoDTEP support to Advance Authorisation Holders, EOUs and SEZ Units

NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal a n n o u n c e d t h e e x t e n s i o n o f Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme support to additional export sectors in New Delhi today The Government of India has announced extension of the RoDTEP Scheme support to additional export sectors i e Advance Authorisation (AA) holders, Export Oriented Units (EOU) and Special Economic Zones (SEZ) export units. This decision comes in recognition of the significant contribution these sectors make to I n dia ’ s E x p o r t s, c o n st it u t ing approximately 25% of our exports. Amidst global economic uncertainties and supply chain disr uptions, extending RoDTEP to the uncovered

sectors such as AA, EOU, and SEZ units will help the exporting c o m m u n i t y i n h a n d l i n g t h e international headwinds.

The Remission of Duties and Ta x e s o n E x p o r t e d P r o d u c t s (RoDTEP) Scheme is a key initiative by the Government of India aimed at refunding various embedded taxes and duties on exported products Since its inception in January 2021, the RoDTEP Scheme has already provided support amounting to Rs. 42,000 Crores to more than 10,500 export items at 8-digit ITC HS Code level. In the current financial year, the scheme has a budget of Rs. 15,070 Crore with an additional increase of 10% in FY 2024-25.

Keeping budgetary allocation in view, the extension of RODTEP to additional sectors is presently till 30 09 2024 The extension of the

RODTEP scheme to these sectors is aimed at enhancing India’s export competitiveness in international markets Key sectors such as Engineering, Textiles, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals & Food Processing and many others stand to benefit from the measure.

By providing support to crucial export sectors, the government aims to not only enhance their competitiveness but also create employment opportunities and contribute to overall economic growth, aligning with the vision of building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The government is confident that the proactive measures being taken, including efforts to negotiate new FTAs, will further accelerate India’s journey towards achieving USD One trillion merchandise export levels

Sarbananda Sonowal approves project worth more than Rs. 800 crore to transform Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port

KOLKATA: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways has approved one of the ambitious projects, Re-Construction of Berth No. 8 and Mechanization of Berth Nos. 7 and 8 at Netaji Subhash Dock of KDS, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata. This significant decision was taken by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, marking a pivotal moment in the port's development journey

The approved project will be executed on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) basis through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The estimated project cost stands at Rs. 809.18 crore, underscoring the magnitude of this endeavor.

This project is poised to bring a paradigm shift in the operational landscape of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port. Key benefits include the establishment of an effective, efficient, and environmentally s u s t a i n a b l e i n t e g r a t e d c a r g o h a n d l i n g s y s t e m , w h i c h w i l l significantly bolster the port's operational efficiency Additionally, the creation of additional berthing and cargo handling facilities will cater to both import and export activities, thereby amplifying the port's capacity and versatility, resulting in enhanced o v e r a l l p e r f o r m a n c e a n d competitiveness.

'Under the leadership of the Prime Minister and by taking several initiatives at ports, the cargo handling

capacity of the ports has doubled in the last ten years. The Mechanization at ports isn't just about upgrading infrastructure; it's about empowering our nation's trade ecosystem with e f f i c i e n c y a n d g l o b a l competitiveness,' said Shri Sonowal.

In West Bengal, the Sagarmala Programme oversees 62 projects valued at Rs. 16,300 crore, with 19 c o m p l e t e d p r o j e c t s w o r t h approximately Rs. 1,100 crore and 43 projects at various stages of implementation totaling around Rs.

15 thousand crore Additionally, 11 projects, partially funded by MoPSW, amounting to around Rs. 650 crore have seen 6 projects completed (worth Rs. 400 crore) and 5 projects ( w o r t h R s 2 5 0 c r o r e ) u n d e r development. Notably, the Coastal Districts Skill Development Program - Phase 2 - West Bengal, sanctioned for Rs 6 32 crore, has yet to commence despite Rs. 2.10 crore being released in Dec 2019. Among the achievements, projects like Road Connectivity Improvement (worth ~Rs. 100 crore) have led to traffic decongestion and improved port connectivity, while the Upgradation of tracks at EJC yard of Kolkata Port ( R s 4 7 c r o r e ) h a s e n h a n c e d operational efficiency and reduced incidents of derailment.

Under Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, various initiatives have been towards world class next generation ports which include developing port c l u s t e r s i n v o l v i n g m a j o r a n d non-major ports with capacities more

than 300 MTPA, creation of deeper drafts (18-23 m) at ports, developing transshipment hub, developing two new major ports, reduce vessel related charges, increase private s e c t o r p a r t i c i p a t i o n t h r o u g h implementation of projects under PM Gati Shakti – NMP and Asset Monetization Plan etc.

Further, Maritime clusters have been also identified in Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 Action Plan include creating industrial clusters along the ports which include DPA, VoCPA, SMPA (Haldia) and also at Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The key initiatives for creating the maritime industrial clusters include identification of models with private sector for developing the industrial clusters, identification of focus commodities for the industrial clusters, adoption of investor friendly policies etc.In addition to industrial clusters, development of three islands namely Greater Nicobar & Port Blair at Andaman and Nicobar Island can be developed as a bunkering hub and Ship repair respectively. In addition, Kalpeni Island can be developed for Vessel Spares and Stores. There are 30 initiatives identified under the theme, of which the key initiatives for developing these islands would involve infrastructure, institutional and policy/regulatory initiatives.

This transformative initiative underscores the government's steadfast commitment to fostering infrastructural development and bolstering maritime commerce.

11th MARCH 2024

DFC starts beneting Farmers from South Gujarat

SURAT: A goods train exclusively for carrying Chiku (sapota) fruits of South Gujarat to Delhi arrived at New Ancheli station of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor of Indian Railways 350-tonne Chikus were loaded in 15 bogies on this train Navsari – Gandevi area’s 10 mandli and one Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) benefitted from this service.

Gandevi taluka is famous for its Chiku fruits. Amalsad, Ajrai, Gandevi, Dhanori, Kharel, Gadat, Manekpor, Vedchha, Abrama, and Navsari Mandli and APMC purchase Chiku from farmers.

The fruits then travel to North India’s Delhi and other markets in trucks. However, the process takes 32–34 hours, which causes a huge waste of fruits en route.

With trains operating on the We s t e r n D e d i c a t e d F r e i g h t Corridor, the fruits reach Delhi in just 24 hours. The centre has a l l o c a t e d a s p e c i a l t r a i n f o r Chiku after successful trials on t h e M u m b a i – D a d r i f r e i g h t corridor

The train will run three days a week and offer lower transport costs compared to trucks.

India’s Maritime Development Fund likely to be in place by year-end

NEW DELHI: India’s proposed Maritime Development Fund – that looks at providing long term, low cost financial support and push towards indigenous ship-building – is likely to be ready by the end of this year Contours of the fund, and guidelines towards spending the same, is currently under-discussion and it will have participation from industry stakeholders, financial institutions and Ministries.

Sources said, the two options under discussion include setting up dedicated maritime vertical under a proposed development finance institution, while the second one involves having a standalone company with multi-agency equity Leasing ships

Right now India spends close to $75 billion annually on leasing ships from outside. India owns about 2 per cent of the world’s total tonnage and has some 1500-odd ships under its flag.

“We want to ensure that we have a ship-building industry, that is local. So we want to do the entire value chain here – that include ship-building, flagging, ownership financing, leasing, among others. If not the entire, we want to have upto 5 per cent

of world’s tonnage soon. That is what the Maritime Development Fund will work towards,” TK Ramachandran, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) was recently quoted as saying, on the sidelines of an event orgainsed by FICCI here in the city

Another official, requesting anonymity said, the Maritime Development Fund would also promote cruise tourism and other activities like mechanization and capacity expansion of existing ports through PPP , etc.

Infrastructure Status

D o c u m e n t s s h o w, t h a t t h e Maritime Development Fund is proposed to start with a corpus of Rs. 25,000 crore spread over a sevenyear-period “Multiple funding mechanisms— Debt, Equity, VGF and buyer credit support will be part of the fund mandate,” the official explained.

The official maintained that, internal review of the Ministry has s h o w n t h a t I n d i a n s h i p p i n g companies struggle to grow tonnage “due to difficulties in accessing required finance”, as there is a mismatch in tenure of loan offered (5 to 10 years) versus life of vessel ( generally 30-odd or more years).

“Lack of infrastructure status limit potential avenues for long-term low-cost funds for shipping making it less attractive sector And we are working with the Finance Ministry for that We have proposed to provide ‘infrastructure’ status to enable vessel operators shipping companies to raise long term-low cost finance,” the official said.

Other Provisions

“We have compared working of similar funds in Norway, Korea and Japan. Found out what more we can add, so as to benchmark and better the provisions making it more attractive to invest here,” the official said. Factors like buyer default cover or vendor default cover are being included in the Indian version.

The official added that global benchmarking reveals, tax incentives are being provided for ship leasing that include having concessional rate of 0 per cent and 8.25 per cent for ship leasing management activities.

“It is proposed to evaluate similar tax benefits to be extended to domestic ship – lessors and ship management companies. Detailed p r o p o s a l t o b e d e v e l o p e d i n consultation with Ministr y of Finance,” the official said.

India’s GDP growth to exceed Govt estimate of 7.6% in FY24: RBI Governor

MUMBAI: The Indian economy is likely to grow at a rate exceeding the Central gover nment’s Second Advance estimate of 7.6 per cent in the ongoing financial year, Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das said recently “I would not hesitate to say that India’s GDP growth in FY24 will exceed 7.6%, it might be closer to 8%,” he said in an interview.

Reaffirming the forecast made d u r i n g t h e M o n e t a r y Po l i c y Committee’s February meeting, Das said he believes India may grow at 7 per cent in the next financial year, i.e., FY25 as well, Das said. “So, 9.7%, 7%,

and 7.6%. If you take the average, it is 8%. And the 7.6 can be closer to 8%. So, the momentum is continuing to be very strong and so therefore we are quite optimistic about next year,” Das added.

“Coming to next year, we have given a growth projection of 7%. We are sticking to 7%. But I will wait for the next MPC, our research teams to do their analysis, but at the moment as I speak to you, I would stick to 7% which we have projected for next year,” Das said, adding that “other forecasters have given much lower projections for next year.”

Das expressed confidence in the numbers for the cur rent quarter, saying that India’s growth could be closer to 8% this year “The implicit growth for the Q4 is 5 9% Our sense and understanding of the high-frequency indicators and the momentum of economic activity tells us that this 5 9% could b e e x c e e d e d a n d w h e n t h a t happens, growth will be more than 7.6%,” Das said. “And I think there is quite a good chance of the growth, GDP number for the current year being very close to 8%,” he added.

India’s forex reserves surge by $6.55 bn to $625.63 bn as of March 1

MUMBAI: India’s foreign exchange reserves are up by of $6.55 billion to $625.63 billion for the week ending on M a r c h 1 , l a t e s t d a t a b y t h e Reserve Bank of India (RBI) showed. Previously, forex reserves surged by

$2.98 billion to $619.07 billion, for the week ended on February 23, 2024.

According to the Weekly Statistical Supplement released by the RBI, Foreign currency assets (FCAs) i n c r e a s e d b y $ 6 . 0 4 b i l l i o n t o

$554 23 billion Gold reserves were up by $569 million to $48 42 billion, whereas SDRs dipped by $17 million to $18 18 billion

Reser ve position in the IMF decreased by $41 million to $4.8 billion.

Govt aims to make all inland waterways ports 100% green in 5 yrs: Shipping Secretary

NEW DELHI: The Government plans to make all coastal and river p o r t s i n i n l a n d w a t e r w a y s “completely green” in five years by using renewable energy, said a senior civil servant.

VO Chidambaranar Port in T h o o t h u k u d i i n Ta m i l N a d u , Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla in Gujarat, Visakhapatnam Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Navi Mumbai already use green energy for all their needs.

"We will ensure that we find ways of making 100 per cent renewable energy efficient ports within a period of about five years," said T K Ramachandran, secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways at the FICCI Green Shipping & Ports Conclave 2024

inNewDelhi

"If not in international shipping, at least in the coastal and river inland waterways – that is under our control," he said. "So, we are working on making that completely green in five years."

Under the Amrit Kaal plan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October, the government has set 2047 as the deadline to make “all major ports” in the country use green energy All such ports will have green hydrogen storage and bunkering facilities by 2047, says a vision documentfortheplan.

The Government has identified three ports, in Kandla, Tuticorin and Paradip, to be pilots in green hydrogen production,saidRamachandran.

The Centre, in February, released guidelines for undertaking green hydrogen pilot projects in the shipping sector under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

Two areas have been identified as thrust areas under the pilot projects. First is retrofitting of ships to enable them to run on green hydrogen or its derivatives. The second is the development of bunkering and refuelling facilities in ports on international shipping lanes for fuels based on green hydrogen.

Ramachandran said his Ministry has allocated Rs 80 crore to the Shipping Corporation of India to enable older ships to use methanol as fuel. "Couple of them are already in the process," he said.

Indian Box volumes pick up despite Red Sea-linked supply chain disruption

NEW DELHI: Containerised trade through India’s major and minor private ports saw measurable traction last month. Combined volumes hit nearly 1.9 million TEUs in February, up nearly 5% from 1.8 million TEUs in January

Of this, Adani Group-owned Mundra Port accounted for 635,000 TEUs in February, compared with some 618,000 TEUs in the prior month.

Nhava Sheva Port (JNPA), the busiest public container handler, contributed about 565,000 TEUs, rising from 516,000 TEUs. At Nhava Sheva, PSA Mumbai (BMCT) has emerged as the largest terminal operator, racking up 158,000 TEUs, versus 148,000 TEUs in January, according to collected data.

The overall month-on-month u p w a r d t h r o u g h p u t t r e n d i s significant as Indian shippers have had considerable supply chain challenges over the past three

months due to the Red Sea crisis.

Apart from service reliability issues as a consequence of vessel diversions over the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa, Indian exporters had also voiced concerns over high freight rates, which they said were forcing them to hold back shipments of low-margin goods.

Especially, agricultural exporters and traders have halted cargo movements due to soaring shipping costs and equipment availability problems.

As ocean freight rates have now seen some downward corrections in the last few weeks, there are expectations that exporters will try to maximise shipments in March, the last month of the fiscal year 2023-24.

India’s merchandise exports by value saw a 3% year-over-year increase in January, bringing back some hopeful signs for industry stakeholders and gover nment leaders.

“The increase in exports, despite the Red Sea crisis posing challenges on the logistics front, goes to show not only the resilience of the sector but also of the exporting community, which has continuously been braving such odds since the Russia-Ukraine war,” said Israr Ahmed, President of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) in a statement

Ahmed further noted, “The exporters have consistently been performing, driving the growth of exports, and also adding to the growth momentum of the economy.”

He went on to add, “The main growth drivers of merchandise exports during the month included petroleum products, engineering goods, iron ore, electronic goods, drugs and pharmaceuticals, which itself is a good sign as most of these sectors are labour-intensive sectors and are giving boost to employment creation in the country.”

RBI, Bank of Indonesia sign MoU promoting use of local currencies for trade

NEW DELHI: The Reserve Bank of India and the Bank of Indonesia on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a framework to promote the use of local c u r r e n c i e s f o r c r o s s - b o r d e r transactions.

“The MoU covers all current account transactions, permissible capital account transactions and any

other economic and financial transactions as agreed upon by both countries,” the RBI said on Thursday.

The framework will enable exporters and importers to invoice and pay in their respective domestic currencies – the Indian rupee and the Indonesian rupiah. In turn, this will facilitate the development of a rupeerupiah foreign exchange market, the

RBI said, adding that the step would optimise costs and settlement time for transactions.

The MoU, which was signed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das and Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjioyo, will deepen financial integration and strengthen economic relations between the two countries, the domestic central bank said.

APEDA facilitates agriculture exports to new markets, focus on fresh fruits, vegetables, Shree Anna

Exports to Iraq, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia register healthy growth

NEW DELHI: Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is undertaking various initiatives to promote agricultural exports from India APEDA's forward-looking strategy involves a paradigm shift towards expanding the export basket with focused initiative on priority p r o d u c t s l i k e f r e s h f r u i t s , vegetables, processed foods and animal products to reduce the reliance on a few products and to move up the value chain With a focus

on expanding into key markets such as Europe, Latin America, and Asia,

supermarkets to showcase its products on an international arena Moreover, the organization is working on to reducing logistical expenses by establishing sea protocols through collaborations with research institutions. These strategic initiatives reiterate APEDA's commitment to boost India's agricultural exports by

enhancing competitiveness and driving sustainable growth

Further, APEDA's concerted efforts to promote Shree Anna-Millets resonate with the government's vision for cultivating a healthier and more diversified food landscape. Over the past year, with a particular focus during the International Year of Millets-2023, APEDA has diligently worked towards the development and integration of a wide array of valueadded products under the Shree Anna brand.

APEDA facilitates visit of Farmer Producer Organizations to UAE; aim to unlock agricultural and food product exports

NEW DELHI: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, is actively driving initiatives to enhance the contribution and share of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) / Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) in the exports of Agri and processed food products and has till date r e g i s t e r e d m o r e t h a n 1 0 0 0 FPO/FPC’s as APEDA Members.

With a dual aim to unlock export opportunities for agricultural and processed food products from the r e g i o n a n d t o e n h a n c e t h e contribution of FPO’s/FPC’s in the Agri and Processed food products, APEDA organized an exposure visit for Farmer Producer Organizations

(FPOs) to the UAE. The delegation comprised 47 members, representing F P O s f r o m U P, B i h a r, a n d Uttarakhand.

During the visit, FPO's visited the Al-Aweer fruit and vegetable market to explore the possibilities and opportunities for Indian agri products specially grown in UP, Bihar and Uttarakhand. Further the delegation of FPOs visited LuLu Hypermarket to understand the requirements and pattern of purchase at Dubai market.

To evaluate the benefits of the visit and disseminate its outcomes among far mers, APEDA conducted a capacity-building and experiencesharing program in Varanasi on 5th March 2024. In the program, the representatives of FPOs who undertook the visit to the UAE, shared

their experiences and learnings of the visit among other member farmers. T h e y b r i e f e d t h e m a b o u t t h e requirements/regulations to be f o l l o w e d f o r e x p o r t i n g a g r i commodities to the UAE market. They also briefly highlighted the potential products which have a significant untapped demand in the UAE market namely Mango, Green Chilly, Okra etc which could be tapped by the farmers of the region. Notably, the event also marked the flag-off of a consignment of fresh t u r m e r i c t o S h a r j a h , U A E , showcasing the region's potential for export. Additionally, fresh fruits were exported from Varanasi's LBSI Airport to the international market, highlighting the region's expanding export capabilities.

Drewry: Multipurpose Time Charter Index moving higher

now at $8,834 pd. The ongoing Red sea situation continues to bring increased utilisation, while smaller vessels, are also seeing a seasonal boost.

the coming month The vessel types include breakbulk and project cargo ships.

The Drewry Multipurpose Time Charter Index is above our forecasted value for January of $8,821 pd, and it is

Our overall expectation is for the index to have a further uptick in March, but it is not expected to be at the same level as previous months. Drewry’s Multipurpose Time Charter Index is expected to increase by 0.2% in March, reaching $8,853pd. This would result in a decline of 3.5% since March 2023.

Container Shipping industry faces USD 1.4 trillion decarbonisation expense

LONDON: The CO2 emissions from the container shipping industry, reaching approximately 230 million tons in 2023 out of a total of about 1 billion tons for all maritime shipping, are alarmingly high and on the rise.

Opposite to expectations of a reduction in CO2-equivalent emissions by 2030, the industry’s combined emissions are projected to sharply increase in 2024 as vessels opt for the

Panama Canal over the Red Sea, resulting in a roughly 30% increase in voyage distances.

According to the New York-based consultancy company AlixPartners, in a w o r

emissions could reach

350 million tons by 2050 unless concerted action is taken by governments, shippers, consumers, and industry groups.

While targeted investments and the adoption of alternative fuel propulsion systems will not be adequate to achieve the mandated 20% reduction by 2030, reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 is still feasible, although challenging.

This would necessitate converting 5% to 17% of the industry’s fleet to zeroemission fuels by 2030 and 84% to 93% by 2050, requiring an investment of up to USD 1.4 trillion.

Piyush Goyal urges textile beneciaries to be vocal for local and

take local to global

NEW DELHI: The Union Minister for Textiles, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal during his interaction with beneficiaries of Textile Sector here urged them in attendance to be vocal for local. “Be vocal for local and take local to global. That’s the clarion call from Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to showcase our products at the world stage”, he said.

Shri Goyal further noted that ramping up textile production in the country will spur income, open up employment opportunities and play a vital role in making the country ‘Atmanirbhar’ as well. The Minister urged the artisans to register their businesses on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). He said that he has instructed GeM to register all artisans and weavers connected with handicraft and handloom without any registration fee.

India’s steel exports surge, imports remain stable in February

NEW DELHI: India witnessed a notable increase in steel exports by around 21 per cent in February compared to January, reaching 1 million tonnes (mt). Conversely, steel imports remained steady at 0.76 mt during the same period. This marks the second consecutive month in 2024 where India has been a net exporter of steel.

According to a report by the steel ministry, on a year-onyear basis, outbound steel shipments surged by 78 per cent in February, while finished steel shipments showed a 29 per cent increase for the month. In January 2024, exports stood at 0.8 mt, with imports totaling 0.77 mt.

A Steel Ministry official noted that the import situation is gradually improving and is being closely monitored, attributing the fluctuations to short-term phenomena.

The increase in exports has led to a reduction in the deficit between outbound and inbound shipments, making India a net importer by 0.9 mt for the first 11 months of FY24 (April – February), with the gap narrowing by 0.2 mt.

Imports during this period rose by 36 per cent year-on-year to 7.58 mt, while exports increased by 13 per cent to 6.65 mt.

Imports exceeded exports by 1 1 mt during the April to January period, marking the highest disparity in recent times However, exporters anticipate a balancing out of this difference soon, citing an upward trend in exports over the past few months, particularly in Q4 (January – March), which is typically a strong quarter. Additionally, the global production glut has reduced, stabilising imports as well

The Steel Ministry report highlights that non-alloy steel, a significant offering, witnessed a staggering 100 per cent year-on-year increase in exports to 0.98 mt in February Meanwhile, alloyed and stainless steel exports experienced a 44 per cent rise to 50,000 tonnes. Conversely, imports of non-alloyed steel surged by 42 per cent to 0.61 mt last month, while alloyed and stainless steel imports saw a 4 per cent decline to 0.155 mt.

India’s P&I Club for Coastal Shipping likely to start on domestic waters

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has spoken to several insurers to allay concerns and iron out details of its proposal to set up a domestic protection and indemnity (P&I) Club for coastal ships and vessels operating on inland waterways, a senior government official said.

“At a recent roundtable of financers and insurers, the ministry deliberated on the way forward for the setting up of this club,” the official said Another official said that stakeholders are awaiting more financial and regulatory clarity The Shipping Ministry, on February 14, conducted a stakeholder meeting on shipbuilding, financing, and insurance. Here, representatives from insurance firms had expressed their intent to participate in the sector.

“The idea is to start small. We are looking at a small corpus through a mutual insurance association of shipbuilders, shipping operators, and general insurers,” the official said.

Several coastal and riverine vessels are not covered under the P&I framework, as they operate in domestic waters. So, the local club will initially focus only on such

vessels. Eventually, the P&I club would look at covering overseas transit as well.

Overseas marine insurance covers amounts running into billions of dollars, which India’s entity would not be able to undertake initially.

Meanwhile, a Finance Ministry panel has said that the Insurance Act — in its present form — does not allow the operation of mutual insurance associations in the sector Industry veterans previously called for this entity to be formed jointly with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).

The Centre will later decide if it will also pool in its own funds for this entity, sources said.

Shipowners buy P&I insurance to cover themselves from huge costs of any accident that could harm cargo, lives of people, and the environment. This cover is usually bought through not-for-profit clubs of like-minded shipowners.

The International Group, or IG, comprises 13 P&I clubs. This group provides marine liability cover to 90-95 per cent of all global sea tonnage.

Leading Industry Association condemn Houthi attack on MV True Confidence

LONDON : Industry Associations express their deep concern over the tragic loss of life and injuries suffered by the crew of MV True Confidence in an attack in the Red Sea on 6 March 2024 The loss of life and injuries to civilian seafarers is completely unacceptable. Merchant vessels crewed by civilian seafarers transporting global trade have a right to innocent passage through the region

without the threat of attack.

The frequency of attacks on merchant shipping highlights the urgent need for all stakeholders to take decisive action to safeguard the lives of innocent civilian seafarers and put an end to such threats. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to all those affected by this terrible event.

CJ-I

CJ-II Eider S Shantilal Shpg. 16/03

CJ-III Sofia II DBC 14/03

CJ-IV ER Maden BS Shpg. 14/03

CJ-V Asian Bulker DBC

CJ-VI VACANT

CJ-VII Knidos Cross Trade 13/03

CJ-VIII Klima Genesis 12/03

CJ-IX Lina Aksoy Dariya Shpg. 13/03

CJ-X Jin Hai Hua Chowgule Bros 12/03

CJ-XI Grand Mariner Master Logitech 12/03

CJ-XII Shamim Armita India 12/03

CJ-XIII Helga Bulker Rishi Shpg. 17/03

CJ-XIV Amis Brave Interocean 14/03

CJ-XV Ghousta MNK & Co. 15/03

CJ-XVA Broad Yuan Mihir & Co. 13/03

CJ-XVI Karunia Gmilang II Mihir & Co. 14/03

TUNA VESSEL'S NAME AGENT'S NAME ETD Golden Star Interocean 15/03

Edgar Ambica Log. 14/03

OIL JETTY VESSEL'S

OJ-I

OJ-II

OJ-III

OJ-IV

OJ-V

OJ-VI

OJ-VII

VESSELS

DUE FOR IMPORT DISCHARGE

GENERAL CARGO VESSELS

SHIPS

WITH EXPORT CARGO

NSICT

NSIGT

BMCT

Hansa Europe (V-2408W) 09-03-2024 Jebel Ali

APL Cairo (V-OUW21W1) 10-03-2024 Jebel Ali

Hedwig

ESL

MSC

GFS

Maersk Pittsburgh (V-409W)

Maersk

Grasmere Maersk (V-410W) 06-03-2024 Hazira

MSC Rida (V-IU409A) 07-03-2024 AICT

MSC Camille (V-IS408A) 09-03-2024 Mundra

MSC Aby (V-IP410A) 09-03-2024 Hazira

Colombo Express (V-4306W) 10-03-2024 ACMTPL

Value (V-OMXTEW1) 07-03-2024 AICT

Cap San Lazaro (V-409W) 08-03-2024 Salalah

Ever Unity (V-E197) 08-03-2024 P. Kelang

X-Press Odyssey (V-24010E) 09-03-2024 Pipavav

Conti Contessa (V-117E) 10-03-2024 Pipavav

Cap Andreas (V-009E) 11-03-2024 Colombo

MSC Leo VI (V-IW408A) 06-03-2024 Colombo

Xin Beijing (V-143E) 06-03-2024 Pipavav

Haian West (V-24008) 06-03-2024 Mundra

MSC Maria Laura II (V-JU409R) 07-03-2024 Sohar

Advance (V-049W) 07-03-2024 Khalifa

CMA CGM Columba (V-OPE8PW1) 07-03-2024 ACMT

Hyundai Colombo (V-37W) 08-03-2024 AICT

Majd (V-24005W) 08-03-2024 MICT

Monaco (V-203W/E) 08-03-2024 Mundra

X-Press Pisces (V-24002E) 08-03-2024 Karachi Maersk Aras (V-410W) 08-03-2024 Mundra

Kota Loceng (V-144E) 10-03-2024

MSC Laurence (V-XA410A) 10-03-2024

KMTC Delhi (V-2401E) 11-03-2024

FFFAI Members at 4th Executive Committee Meeting interacts on "Who will police the police”

Cont’d from Pg. 3

The objective of organizing this session was to sensitize the FFFAI members regarding undue practices of authorities concerned as regards to Customs Brokers’ plights of being penalized for a matter without any involvement and responsibilities for the same.

W e l c o m i n g t h e S p e c i a l G u e s t S p e a k e r

Dr. Sujay Kantawala, Mr Dushyant Mulani, Chairman, FFFAI pondered on the importance of the subject of this session. He pointed out that the CB community often faces undue penalties imposed on them, Show Cause Notices are being issued, harassment and treated on par with exporters or importers for any mistakes done by their customers (importers or exporters).

Taking cue from the FFFAI Chairman, Hon. Secretary Mr. Sudip Dey highlighted Dr. Kantawala’s professional profile as an acclaimed advocate and his support to the industry. He frequently appeared in the Supreme Court of India and many High Courts across the States to safeguard the interest of victims pertaining to issues on indirect taxes, customs, excise, service tax matter, anti-dumping duty, etc.

In his presentation Dr Kantawala, focused on Customs related issues and especially on misinterpretations of the CBLR/Customs Act by many Customs Officers. He raised the serious concern of accountability of Customs Officers. Quoting renowned Justice Krishna Iyer’s statement “Who will police the police?”, he raised the pertinent question “Who will police the Customs Officers?” According to him, Citizen Charters displayed in Customs Offices do not make any sense in view of the ground reality For example after five years a CB is not required to maintain any records. However, he still receives Show Cause Notices (SCN) for the same. He also underscored many instances of serving SCNs to CBs for which he was not even remotely involved He also stated that responsibilities on issues/disputes arising out of self-assessment are equal concerning involvement of a shipper and proper officer who is the final verifying authority on this matter In his opinion, many times Customs Officers fail to adhere to the Guidelines issued by the CBIC. CBs should not be penalized for any error in this regard. Similarly, concerned Officers should be punished for any incorrect SCN, penalty or revocation of CB license.

Concluding the Knowledge Session, Mr. Dushyant Mulani informed that with inputs and guidance of Dr Kantawala, FFFAI would make a representation to CBIC to do away with any injustice to the CB community.

He appreciated Dr Kantawala’s statement that unequal cannot be considered as equal defending the Article 14 of the constitution of India. He pointed out that 70 percent of FFFAI members are from the MSME Sector and this sector is the backbone of the progress of the country FFFAI is committed to protect the interest of this sector for the greater interest of the country’s economy.

Attended by more than 100 EC Members across 31 locations in the country, the EC meeting was also addressed by Mr Sagar Kadu, Director Logistics, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. He graced the occasion to share insights on the government’s initiatives in the Logistics sector for meeting the ambitious target of becoming the third-largest economy in the world, with a target of a $5 trillion economy by 2025 and a 'developed country' by 2047.

The 4th EC meeting also discussed several issues and recommendations regarding Customs, Sea Port, Airport, ICDs etc

At this meeting FFFAI released a LIVE shipment through FIATA e-BL. This marks a significant step in the history of FFFAI in supporting the Government initiatives of Digitization. The FIATA paperless Bill of Lading allows freight forwarders to easily issue a secured e-FBL through a seamless one-click process, thereby removing double data entry Members of FFFAI can generate the bill in three distinct ways; API integration with internal systems to fetch the data into the platform, excel uploads or using an innovative machine learning interface to pull data from legacy PDF or scanned documents into the FIATA format with more than 95% accuracy. FFFAI is the only authorized representative of FIATA in India to offer FIATA e-BL services through its Member SSO login, in a highly secured digital environment.

FFFAI Office Bearers on dais during 4th EC Meeting in Mumbai

FFFAI Office Bearers and EC Members at the 4th EC Meeting in Mumbai

Mr. Sagar Kadu is being felicitated by Mr. Dushyant Mulani and Mr Amit Kamat at the 4th EC Meeting of FFFAI