Prompted by delays in the delivery of cargoes and other port-related services as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, some of the Indian ports have declared force majeure. These include Dhamra, Karaikal, Gopalpur, Gangavaram, Krishnapatnam on the east coast and Adani-Mundra, Hazira, Angre, as well as all 44 ports under Gujarat Maritime Board on the west coast. The decision stems from a call by the Indian Government for a complete lockdown of the entire nation for the next 21 days beginning at midnight on March 24, in an effort to contain the COVID-19 Pandemic. The ports in the country have been categorized as essential services and remain open, however, as the lockdown suspends all activities/movements other than essential services, and district borders are sealed, difficulties are expected in the movement of pilots, labour, personnel, vehicles, trucking, cargo evacuation, port agents, CHA & other stake holders involved in vessel/cargo operations. The country’s ministry of shipping has also instructed all ports to follow 14 days mandatory quarantine for vessels arriving from restricted countries and ports affected by the virus outbreak.
