Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has issued a Trade Notice, dated March 10, 2026, intimating waiver of Storage/Dwell Time charges and Reefer Plug-in charges for Middle-East bound export containers stranded in the port area due to the geopolitical disturbances in the region.
This is in compliance with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways directives, dated March 6, regarding Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Major Ports to mitigate the impact of geopolitical disturbances in the Middle East, read with section 27, 50, 53 & 75 of the Major Port Authorities Act 2021, clause 7. 7 of the Tariff Policy for Major Port Authorities Act 2021 and relevant provisions of the respective Concession agreements executed with the Concessionaires. The Trade Notice has been issued by JNPA for immediate compliance of all concerned in order to mitigate the hardships faced by port users due to the current situation.
In line with the Ministry’s directives, JNPA said it is committed to extend all possible assistance to the EXIM community to tide over this crisis, hence the waiver of charges offer.
The following measures have already been taken by the port and terminal operators to give relief to the EXIM community:
* Facility to store stranded containers in the terminal’s container yards till the cargo is shipped out.
* JNPA and the terminals are in constant consultation with Customs authorities to facilitate storage of laden containers from other ports destined to the Middle East as temporary transhipment cargo at JNPA terminals.
* JNPA is also providing more storage area to the terminals for stacking such additional cargo.
In addition, JNPA, in association with its terminal operators, has decided to implement the following measures to mitigate the burden on the exporters for their stranded cargo destined for ports and terminals in the Middle East region affected by the recent geopolitical disturbances as under:
* All terminal operators shall give 100% waiver on ground rent/dwell time charges up to 15 days (from 0000 hours on 28.02.2026 up to 2400 hours on 14.03.2026) for containers lying inside the terminals from 28th February 2026 or those which had gated in till 0700 hours on 08.03.2026.
* All terminal operators shall waive 80% of the reefer plug-in charges up to 15 days (from 0000 hours on 28.02.2026 till 2400 hours on 14.03.2026) to those stranded reefer containers loaded with perishable goods, which were lying inside from 28th February 2026 or those which had gated in till 0700 hours on 08.03.2026 only.
* Shipping lines, NVOCCs, Freight Forwarders are directed to ensure that these benefits are passed on to the actual exporters.
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