In response to the escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has issued a comprehensive advisory aimed at safeguarding maritime trade and ensuring operational continuity. On March 6, the Ministry of Port, Shipping and Waterways issued a detailed Standard Operating Procedure for Major Port to mitigate the geopolitical disturbance in the West Asia. However, sources said various concessions the port authorities gave to the exporters were delayed in the last one month.

The DGS advisory issued on Wednesday follows concerns that concessions granted by port authorities, such as detention charges, ground rent and reefer plug-in fees are not being uniformly passed on to exporters. According to the DGS, terminal operators at various ports are currently billing Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers (NVOCCs), which are freight forwarders providing ocean transportation under their own House Bill of Lading without owning vessels.

These operators later pass on concessional benefits through reimbursement mechanisms, creating delays in the relief reaching exporters. To address this, the DGS has mandated that all concessions approved by port authorities must be directly and transparently passed on to stakeholders, including freight forwarders and NVOCCs, who must in turn reflect the benefits to exporters. The practice of routing such adjustments through reimbursements or post-facto claims has been ordered to cease immediately.

The advisory further places responsibility on port authorities to monitor compliance at the terminal level, ensuring that the intended beneficiaries receive the concessions without delay. Additionally, the DGS has urged shipping lines to clearly reflect any revisions in war risk premiums within freight charges. It noted that it is coordinating with insurance providers and industry stakeholders to align premiums with actual risk levels.