Mangaluru: Middle East crisis: NMPA extends a helping hand

Mangaluru: Following instructions from the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) has announced several relief measures for port users in light of the hardships caused by the current Middle East conflict.

Amid disruptions in the transportation of LPG and crude oil due to the war, the authority has decided to waive the Cargo Related Charges (CRC) for the handling of these commodities. This waiver applies specifically to crude oil and LPG cargo handled at New Mangalore Port and will remain in effect until midnight on March 31.

Assistance for Imports/Exports

Arrangements have been made to store container cargo that has been stranded due to the inability to export or import in the port’s storage areas. In collaboration with the Container Terminal and the Customs Department, NMPA is offering space at its terminal for temporary transshipment of container ships that were headed toward the Middle East from other ports. NMPA will also waive ground rent and reefer plug-in charges for such stranded export containers.

For this purpose, a dedicated covered warehouse and open yards at the SJ Gate have been identified to store container cargo and perishable goods. It has also been decided to prioritize the handling of LPG vessels.

Hotels yet to receive cylinders

Despite government instructions that commercial cylinders should be distributed on priority or via a rationing system to hotels, establishments in Mangaluru are yet to receive commercial gas cylinders.

Sources indicate that some private suppliers, such as Aegis and LPG Gas, are providing gas to a few hotels at high prices under various conditions. Since these companies maintain storage facilities in Mangaluru, they have stock available and are also supplying a significant number of commercial cylinders to Goa.

Nagaraj, Deputy Director of Food and Civil Supplies, stated that commercial LPG is currently being provided only to priority sectors like hostels. Distribution to hotels has not yet commenced but may begin as supply improves.