Mormugao Port to charge royalty from shore handling agencies, will impose performance norms

PANAJI: Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) has decided to revamp the rules for stevedoring and shore handling services, which lay will require licenced agencies to pay a royalty on cargo that is being imported or exported while also adhering to performance benchmarks. MPA has indicated that shore handling agencies will be incentivised for efficiency in cargo handling and shore based services.

The existing stevedoring agents will have to switch over to the new stevedoring and shore handling rules once the draft regulations are implemented. MPA has given a 30 day window for stakeholders to express concerns and raise up policy gaps that can be addressed.

“These regulations shall apply to the stevedoring and shore handling activities undertaken by the agent but shall not apply to the port’s own stevedoring and shore handling activities or for those berths which have been given on lease for Public Private Partnership projects,” say the draft regulations.

MPA has fixed a licence free of Rs fifty thousand for a period of three years, which could be revised by the port authority at a later stage. The MPA board will also fix the upper cap for stevedoring and shore handling charges, for mechanized and manual operations. No agent can charge a tariff that exceeds the notified rates.

“The port shall charge a royalty for the stevedoring and shore handling and fix per metric ton rate and no discrimination will be made on the royalty licence fee. Every agent will have to pay the royalty in advance, before the vessel arrives,” said an MPA official.
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