According to officials, the Mumbai port has handled 321 ships and nine million metric tons of cargo during the extended coronavirus-induced lockdown period. The official also added that the port is fully operational as of now.
As per sources, six cruise liners have reached the port since June 12 and some more are scheduled to dock to disembark Indian crew members stuck on these “floating luxury hotels” after the outbreak of the coronavirus halted their operations at several places across the globe. Sanjay Bhatia, Chairperson of the Mumbai Port Trust, stated that a total of 14 cruise liners are to dock at the Mumbai Port Trust to disembark 10,000 Indian crew members by June 28. Bhatia also stated that during the lockdown period, the Mumbai Port continued to handle a variety of cargo which includes steel, sugar, pulses, fertilizers, cement, motor vehicles, crude oils and chemicals amongst others. The port is said to have handled 9.6 million metric tons of cargo from 321 vessels.
Sanjay Bhatia further added that the port continues to handle cruise liners at its facility, enabling signing off of Indian crew onboard cruise ships across the globe. The port which has been in the forefront has further helped the seafarers by helping them sign off at Mumbai Port. Bhatia, in conclusion, stated that till date, six cruise vessels have berthed in the port with more than 1,000 Indian crew being handled. Ovation of seas, one of the largest cruise ships have also been docked in the port.
In the past, the Health Minister of Goa, Vishwajit Rane, had said that the state government is installing smart kiosks at the Mormugao Port Trust to intensify COVID-19 testing facilities for the crew members before they exit the port. Under the standard operating procedure (SOP), any seafarer would be allowed sign-on at the port of embarkation only after the test for the coronavirus is found negative, failing which action would be taken as per guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
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