A nation’s ports operate as efficient means of moving large quantities of goods with the least environmental impact. Ports play a prominent role in the shipping industry. Due to the unique geographical characteristics, local political infrastructure, historic development and ever-evolving trade patterns, no two ports are the same. In cross-border shipping, at least two ports are always involved: the source country’s port and the destination country’s port. The effective management of the ports plays a significant role in the control of transportation cost, delivery time, cargo security, throughput and its variability. A port community system is an integrated solution that enables secure information exchange about various activities involved in the supply chain between all the public and private stakeholders involved. It allows various entities related to a port to stay connected and be an indispensable part of the global supply chain. With the digitization of port terminal operation
Cargo dwell time is the measure of the duration from the time a cargo reaches the customs point till the time it is provided clearance by the customs officers. Before the cargo is finally released from the terminal, it needs to be stored and managed. Higher dwelling time means that the goods need to be stored for a longer time at ports. It further leads to other challenges faced by freight forwarder, trader and end customer. Reports and surveys show that the cargo dwell time in India is much higher than other countries. When shipping from India to UAE, the import time in India can be more than 75 hours. Whereas, the import time in UAE, Singapore and Hong Kong is fewer than six hours. Such difference in dwell time reflects the lack of supply chain management system. Let us find out the challenges faced by traders, freight forwarders and the nation due to high argo dwell time at ports. Further, we will see what actions are being taken to overcome these challenges. Consequences of High C