NAVI MUMBAI: Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust’s (JNPT’s) cargo dwell time decreased substantially in December as stakeholders at the public container gateway worked harder to improve efficiency amid ever-challenging market conditions.

JNPT logged an average dwell time of 42.7 hours  (exports and imports combined) in December, compared with 48.3 hours in November — a 12 percent improvement month to month, according to a new study by radio-frequency service provider DMICDC Logistics Data Services (DLDS).

Even more significant: the pace of import freight clearance — a persistent Government concern — increased substantially. Import dwell times in December decreased to 20.4 hours from 27.6 hours — an impressive 26 percent gain. (In December 2017, the dwell time was 26 hours.)

In addition, export dwell times also decreased in December, albeit modestly, to 71.6 hours, from 73.2 hours in November — a 2 percent month-to-month change. Still, that was a respectable 11 percent improvement on the 80.8-hour performance reported in December 2017.

Further, import clearance from off-dock container freight stations (CFSs) — which are integral to JNPT’s supply chain ecosystem in the wake of limited on-dock storage capacity — also quickened. It improved 10 percent to 2.9 hours in December from 3.3 hours in November, whereas CFS export handling slowed to 5.3 hours, from 4.9 hours — a 9 percent difference.

By terminal

By terminal, APM Terminals’ Gateway Terminals India (GTI) was the overall star performer regarding dwell times — a position the company has enjoyed for long time. The DLDS report stated that GTI’s overall December dwell time decreased to 42.1 hours, from 45 hours in November; imports declined to 18.3 hours, from 24.1 hours; and exports fell to 66.3 hours, from 71.5 hours. Other terminals operated by DP World and new entrant PSA International were also able to reduce their dwell time levels, especially for import handling.

Dwell time, in port parlance, is defined as the time taken for exports inside terminal gates to be loaded onto a ship and imports onto a truck or train. JNPT handles the majority of India’s container freight and, as such, the Government is extremely keen on further improvements on this front, as on-dock overstaying containers are a major contributor to harbor congestion.

The aforementioned improvements have in large part come from two factors: direct port delivery (DPD) services — enabling importers to clear cargo directly from the wharf — and more digital solutions, industry leaders generally say.

Rail conversions also notched progress. Freight handling by train during December edged up to 15 percent, from 14 percent in December 2017. What's more, rail conversions will likely gain more ground in the months ahead, with JNPT extending inter-terminal rail operations to DPD cargo.