Coal news and updates

Paradip to berth coastal ships within 72 hours of anchoring

October 7: Based on the recommendations of the committee set up by the Ministry of Shipping to review the extant guidelines on priority berthing for coastal vessels, Paradip Port will try to accommodate coastal vessels in berths within 72 hours of their reporting at the port’s anchorage, according to an official release.

It may be recalled the MoS had stated that priority berthing will be accorded to multi-purpose berths for dry/general cargo coastal vessels to enable shippers to transport goods from one port to another in India, irrespective of origin and final destination of cargo.

According to the ministry, a coastal vessel shall mean any vessel exclusively employed in trading between any port or place in India to any other port of place within the country having a valid coastal licence issued by the Directorate General of Shipping/competent authority.

Furthermore, coastal vessels which are accorded priority shall not be liable to pay priority berthing charges.

Also, there will be no restrictions on berthing of coastal vessels in addition to these being berthed on priority basis if the same is eligible under the normal berthing policy of the port.

The coastal vessel shall be liable to pay any port charges on coastal rates notwithstanding whether it was berthed on priority basis or otherwise.