“We consider sustainability the key pillar on which port functions”- Sanjay Sethi, IAS, Chairman, JNPT

How has the last year been work-wise? 

The last year has been challenging due to the pandemic. There have been disruptions at JNPT due to supply chain disruptions and demand contractions, The first quarter of the last financial year was particularly bad, but things picked up after October. This year is more like business as usual, JNPT is functioning like any other port in terms of traffic.  

What are the measures taken by JNPT to make the digital transition during this time smooth for everyone? 

One of the key reasons for disruption was the manufacturing not happening at the fullest capacity. The transportation from the hinterland to the port was affected in a big way. The drivers who were driving tractors and other vehicles in the port were not welcomed back by the gram panchayat. We got people from other states to fill up the gap and made arrangements for them to stay, including their food arrangements. This was mainly for the 4 or 5 months that were very challenging. For our own personnel, we made sure the chain is not disrupted at the port level. We made sure we had a new SOP for our working where people felt comfortable. Regular sanitization activities were undertaken and strict covid protocols were followed. We had new seating arrangements of how meetings could be conducted, how we could get in touch with the state authorities, and all the other stakeholders. All measures were undertaken to ensure the smooth functioning of JNPT.  

When it comes to logistics, what are some of the measures JNPT is undertaking right now? 

In terms of capacity, we have the fourth container terminal, which got completed in its first phase in 2013. In phase two environmental clearance is awaited, which will start when we achieve a capacity of 10 Million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). We have been doing five million TEUs for last three years, but we want our capacities to get doubled. Also, the responsibility of setting up the largest port of the country, or the Wadhawan port, has been given to JNPT, which was approved by the cabinet last February. We are also working on rail and port connectivity measures, as well as detailed engineering, including changes in the layout and the kind of model that will help the potential concessionaires, and the financial engineering part. This is an ambitious project that looks at 24 Million TEUs, which will put it in the top 10 ports of the world as per current rankings.  

What are the measures taken by JNPT to ensure the sustainability of the port and sustainable business practices? 

We consider sustainability the key pillar on which port functions. A major part of sustainability is energy transition, for which we use solar energy, which fuels 30% of our energy needs. This will go up to as high as 40% in the next two years, the target being 60% By 2030. We are also working on a pilot project on floating solar infrastructure in seawater. We are also using EV vehicles in our port area. We are also using gantry cranes for use at its own facility, where the estimated carbon footprint saved every year is 3500 tonnes. We are also conducting a pilot project using 20,000 liters of biodiesel for our internal movements. We have replaced our 600hp diesel engine with 450hp diesel vehicles.  

We also have targets of increasing the green cover in the port, we have a huge mangroves plantation. Safety itself is a big component of sustainability wherein we have taken up adequate safety measures which adds to the sustainability quotient. The three pillars like environment, social, and government combine together to make sustainability as we understand it. We also look at Public-Private Partnerships, which will help operational efficiency, and in turn financial efficiency. There is also a ‘Skill Development Center’, which we started in collaboration with al Cargo.  

What are some of the practices smaller ports can imbibe? 

In non-major ports, out of 200, only about 100 ports are really active. It is noteworthy that if a port is not competitive, it cannot be sustainable. Sharing information and getting a lot of it online is the real answer to cut the cost, cut time, which in turn helps the port to become cost-competitive.  

What is the future of maritime space once covid is a thing of the past? 

The vessel size is increasing, when we talk about global economic uncertainty. However, in the port sector, the existing reports definitely show some optimism, where 9.1% growth is sought. However, we are also dealing with issues of empty containers, ocean freights rising. For a country like India, containerization is going to go up, and the rising freight rates imply the same. Our share in the overall trade is definitely going to increase, so there is a reason for the country to be optimistic. There is a consolidation of the shipping market, lesser players getting in there which has a plus and a minus.