DP World is offering alternative routes to Persian Gulf bound cargo. In a statement to customers, the Dubai government-controlled logistics major offered a temporary contingency arrangement considering the 'ongoing regional situation, in West Asia. DP World's customers now have the option to discharge their import containers at alternative locations, specifically Khorfakkan Port or Fujairah Port, which will be moved further by road.

"The company will oversee the transportation of these discharged containers, moving them under bonded road transit directly to Jebel Ali Port for their final clearance," the company said, adding all bonded trucking movements are being fully coordinated by DP World and it is working 'in close coordination with various shipping lines and relevant authorities.

Jebel Ali is located inside the Persian Gulf. To reach it by sea, vessels must navigate the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow, highly volatile geopolitical chokepoint vulnerable to military tensions and vessel seizures. Comparably, Khorfakkan and Fujairah are situated on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) eastern coastline, facing the Gulf of Oman and the open Arabian Sea. Crucially, sitting entirely outside the Strait of Hormuz.

UAE is a federation of seven emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. By letting cargo offload in the eastern ports, commercial ships are derisked from entering the strait while still delivering cargo directly to Dubai's primary logistics hub.

This move may usher some relief to exporters with stranded cargo in the tense region after United States and Israel assassinated Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a coordinated attack. Iran has since retaliated, unleashing a barrage of missiles and drones in the Persian Gulf and neighbouring nations. Israel, and US are also continuing their attacks on the Shia-majority Muslim nation.

According to DP World, once the cargo arrives at Jebel Ali Port, the final import customs clearance and any associated duty payments will be processed. This alternative routing arrangement applies to both standard import shipments and Free Zone shipments.

Indian exporters are vulnerable to disturbances in West Asia due to the market for perishables like fruits, vegetables, pharmaceuticals, and engineering goods. According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Indian-flagged ships continue to remain safe in the region with no confirmed detention, boarding or casualty involving Indian-flagged vessels being reported. The centre is monitoring 35 Indian-flagged vessels in the Persian Gulf region and three vessels in the Gulf of Aden at hourly intervals.

Source: ET Infra. Com 

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