INDIAN GOVERNMENT INTRODUCES CONCESSION RESTRICTIONS

The contract for consultancy was awarded to Singapore’s Jurong Consultants and made on behalf of Horizon Singapore Terminals Pte Limited (HSTL).

India’s Shipping Ministry has made changes to its policy regarding private ownership of the country’s container terminals. Whereas previously it had stated that one operator would be restricted to two terminals per port, it is now stipulating that the limit of two terminals will also encompass neighbouring ports in order to prevent one operator effectively obtaining a monopoly over box handling in one particular region. As examples, it quotes Chennai and Ennore, JNPT and Mumbai or Kandla and Haldia as ports effectively close enough to one another to trigger such a ruling.