INTERNATIONAL TRANS-SHIPMENT AT INDIAN PORTS

The Central Board of Excise & Customs have introduced the concept of trans-shipment of LCL cargo in Indian ports, where currently only FCL trans-shipments take place. Unlike earlier, cargo that is destuffed in India was only permissible for domestic consumption; which would now mean giving foreign shippers a better alternative of routing consignments via Indian ports.

This would mean :

•  benefits in forex earnings for the country
•  increase in foreign investment
•  freight benefits to the trade
•  controlled trans-shipment costs (in the long run) , and
•  as a result in increased employment opportunities

The facility of international trans-shipment would be provided at the following ports:

•  Cochin
•  Chennai
•  Tuticorin , and
•  Nhava -Sheva

The movements of freight being classified into three divisions by the customs are as follows:

•  T.I. – Cargo movement from port of discharge to hinterland ports (Trans-shipment to ICDs)

•  L.C. - This is the port code where the Cargo is delivered. Same as port of arrival. (Local Cargo)

•  T.C. – This code relates to the international trans-shipment cargoes, which would be trans-shipped over Indian ports, where the destination Port would be the port code where the trans-shipment cargo is Destined or delivered to. (Trans-shipment Cargo)