The Container Shipping Lines Association (India) has pointed out operational challenges that its members are facing at the newly opened Vizhinjam Port, as the port prepares to handle increased shipping traffic. These challenges are hindering the smooth and efficient operation of vessels, reports The Business Line.
Lack Of ICP
Shipping lines are facing significant operational challenges at Vizhinjam Port due to the lack of an Immigration Check Post (ICP), which is present at other Indian ports.
The absence of an ICP prevents crew changes and the provision of vital services such as victualing, supplies, ship spares, and bunkering. This hinders local business growth and services related to port calls, according to the Container Shipping Lines Association (CSLA).
Furthermore, vessels with crew members of Pakistani nationality are prohibited from calling at Vizhinjam Port due to the ICP’s absence. Since most international vessels have mixed-nationality crews, even a few Pakistani nationals on board result in canceled port calls, affecting planning, container volumes, and service consistency.
Each vessel arrival requires the local shipping line office to request permission from the jurisdictional Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for specific crew members to disembark for essential tasks like draft checks and gangway securing. This additional administrative step can lead to crew shortages for crucial on-quay duties.
Vessel Clearance
For vessel clearance at Vizhinjam Port, shipping lines must send a photograph of the entire crew to the local Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), a requirement unique to this port in India. Due to these operational difficulties, the Container Shipping Lines Association (CLSA) has requested the Ministry’s help in granting Immigration Check Post (ICP) status to Vizhinjam Port.
Despite these challenges, shipping lines have shifted transshipment volumes from Colombo to Vizhinjam, resulting in approximately 180 vessel calls and 400,000 TEUs handled since the port’s opening.
Customs officers are yet to be deployed at Vizhinjam, even after eight months of operation. Shipping lines must initiate customs clearance with the Thiruvananthapuram Customs Office, manually, at least four days in advance. This manual process, unlike procedures at other ports, necessitates Thiruvananthapuram Customs forwarding vessel documents to Cochin Customs for approval. With nearly two vessels arriving daily, this slow process causes significant operational delays.
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Source: Business Line
