Latest News

Two of India’s busiest ports could re-open within the next couple of days as salvage firms fight to remove containers that went overboard after two vessels collided on Saturday.

India’s biggest port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNP), which has been suffering from congestion problems, and Mumbai Port have been closed to traffic since the Panamanian-flagged container ship MSC Chitra and the cargo ship Khalijia III collided 8km off the Mumbai shore.

It is not clear when traffic will be fully restored at the ports, but in an interview with an Indian news station, Rahul Asthana, chairman of the Mumbai Port Trust (MBT) said: “The salvers are working at it in terms of removing the containers which lie at the bottom of the [approach] channel.

“We expect that in the next two-three days, we would certainly be able to deal with the situation and normal shipping could start again.”

“Right now as we speak around 18 ships are waiting to enter both the ports and an equal number of 16-18 ships are waiting to get out,” Asthana told Indian TV.

It is estimated that between 200 and 400 containers, some of which contain hazardous material, went overboard in the accident.

However, a spokesperson for DP World, which operates a container terminal at the JNP, told IFW that DP World was still awaiting “clarity” over when terminals could restart operations.

Salvage companies were still attempting to clear containers from the sea to re-open approach channels earlier today.

Initial safety speculation from salvage and local regulators suggest that the collision most likely occurred because of a miscommunication between the vessels.

But reports in India claimed that the 2,100teu MSC Chitra, which was carrying 1,219 boxes of which 31 containers on deck were understood to be loaded with dangerous cargo, was detained by port state control authorities in both New Zealand and Australia for safety standard infringements in 2008.

The vessel is operated by MSC, but the company failed to respond to IFW requests today for clarification of its previous safety infringements and its efforts in the clean-up operation.