New Terminal Operating System and Ship Bunching Disrupt Truck Movements at Kattupalli and Ennore Container Terminals.

After ten days of disruptions in container trailer movements, trade at Adani Kattupalli and Ennore Port Container Terminals continues to face delays in container scanning, largely due to a new Terminal Operating System (TOS) and the bunching of container vessels. According to a company source, the TOS-related issues have been resolved, and normal operations have resumed, but trailers still experience significant delays at the scanning center.

An official from a major container freight station reported that trailers carrying containers for scanning now face wait times exceeding 24 hours. Since March 2024, the proportion of import containers undergoing scanning has risen from 7% to 22%. However, the number of Customs officers at the terminals is limited to operational hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., allowing for only 120 trailers to be scanned daily. The National Container Freight Station Association (Chennai Chapter) raised concerns to the terminal operator, noting a daily backlog of 300-400 trailers awaiting scanning, with many left unprocessed by day’s end.

The association stated, “This backlog is significantly impacting trade, increasing transport costs due to prolonged waiting periods, causing delays in goods delivery, and disrupting production schedules. The situation is driving up costs across the supply chain, with end users ultimately bearing these expenses.”

In an April 2024 visit to Adani Terminals, the association requested additional staffing to help ease the bottleneck but reported no noticeable improvement. Furthermore, a meeting with Customs officials on April 29, 2024, aimed at resolving scanning delays has yet to yield solutions.

The Chennai Customs Brokers’ Association also noted that the new TOS at Kattupalli and Ennore has led to congestion, with the dwell time for imports now exceeding five days. This extended dwell time adds extra costs for storage, container detention, and vehicle detention, making logistics more expensive.

An official from a large freight forwarding company suggested that running a parallel TOS rollout would have helped identify and resolve issues before full implementation, reducing impacts on trade.

According to APSEZ’s 2023-24 report, Kattupalli handled 11.93 million tonnes (MT) of cargo, while Ennore processed 12.95 MT, underscoring the critical need for smooth operations at these high-capacity terminals.

HBL