Question : SCIENTIFIC SYSTEM OF LOADING AND UNLOADING AT PORTS

(a) whether for want of the scientific system of loading and unloading at ports of the country, there is delay in the process of loading and unloading;

(b) if so, whether the consignment owners have to give demurrage charges to the shipping companies as a result of the said delay.

(c) whether delay in loading and unloading of consignments at the ports in the country is far more as compared to delay at international ports; and

(d) if so, the facts in this regard and the scheme of the Government to do away with such delays ?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SURFACE TRANSPORT
( DR. DEBENDRA PRADHAN )
(a): The loading and unloading rate at the ports is consistant with the available equipments and labour productivity. However, there is a scope for reducing the time taken for cargo handling by modernising the system of loading/unloading of the cargo at Ports.
(b): Demurrage is not payable by the shippers during the loading / unloading process irrespective of the time taken.
(c)&(d): The level of mechanisation, labour productivity and management practices in the international ports are different from those existing at Indian Ports. A direct comparison of delays in loading and unloading of cargo at Indian Ports with international Ports may be of relevance, as the type of ships that call at the international ports, handling methods, the equipment used and the type of cargo vary widely. To minimise the delays, the following measures are being taken :-
i) Mechanisation and modernisation of cargo handling equipments.
ii) Replacement of obsolete equipment.
iii) Rationalisation of manning scales.
iv) Privatisation in different areas in Port sector.
v) Streamlining of procedure and change in cargo handling methods.
vi) Introduction of Electronic Data Interchange.