Feeder operators serving India's Chennai Container Terminal, operated by DP World, are reporting delays to their vessels despite the reinstatement of window-based berthing.
Carriers, under the aegis of Chennai Feeder Operators, complained that of the 12 vessels that arrived in a recent week as per assigned windows, 11 suffered delays of nine to 40 hours.
"Berthing delays are growing and, if unchecked, will only compound the already tight and tenuous window-berthing schedule," the group stated.
They also said berthing of ad-hoc vessels to pick up empties aggravated the situation, and urged the private operator to take immediate steps to restore normalcy.
The terminal operator attributed recent disruptions to delayed arrivals of two mainline vessels, coupled with a sudden strike by truck drivers handling movements within the terminal, and conceded that ad-hoc vessel calls affected operations.
Meanwhile, officials in the local Container Shipping Lines' Association also protested against delays and called on the terminal authority to maintain berthing windows.
Lines had earlier imposed a surcharge of US$100 per TEU, which was later withdrawn on January 11 after the authority agreed to reinstate window berthing and equitable cargo-draying schedules.
Chennai, which is experiencing a surge in traffic volumes, became the second port in India to handle more than one million TEUs in 2007.