Indian ports declare force majeure amid Coronavirus crisis

Prompted by the unforeseen delays in the delivery of cargoes and other port-related services as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown measures, 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 follows the Indian Government’s drastic lockdown measures restraining the movement of people and goods with the aim of curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi called for a complete lockdown of the entire nation for the next 21 days beginning on March 25.

Modi said that even those nations with the best medical facilities could not contain the virus and that social distancing is the only option to mitigate it.

“The nation will have to certainly pay an economic cost because of this lockdown. However, to save the life of each and every Indian is our topmost priority. Hence, it is my plea to you to continue staying wherever you are right now in the country,” he pointed out.

He added that if the situation is not brought under control in the next 3 weeks, the country could go back 21 years and that several families would be devastated forever.

The ports in the country have been categorized as essential services and remain open during the pandemic.

However, as the lockdown suspends all activities other than essential services, difficulties are expected in the movement of pilots, labor, vehicles, port agents, and other stakeholders involved in vessel and cargo operations.

Manpower is also drastically reduced in most locations.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited, India’s largest private port operator, said that the Force Majeure is being invoked to limit the ports’ responsibility for any potential claims, damages, charges arising from the measures.

These could include pre-berthing or any other delays as well as the discharge rate of different cargoes.

“So far, 12 major government ports in India have not invoked Force Majeure though the Ministry of Shipping has already given them what is required to do so if needed. These ports are continuing to work with limited available resources at present,” GAC India said.

Adani added that the Force Majeure will remain in place until the government lifts the imposed restraints.

The country’s ministry of shipping has ordered all ports to follow 14 days mandatory quarantine for vessels arriving from restricted countries and ports affected by the pandemic.