PROBLEMS at the Indian port of Ennore have forced the NEMO/AES vessel APL Boston to call at the alternative port of Chennai on its northbound voyage from Australia.

The weekly service, operated by CMA CGM and MSC, added calls at Adani Ennore Container Terminal (which is part-owned by MSC) in June last year, saying at the time that it would offer our customers a fast export connection from the main commercial area in South East India to Europe together with a direct import connection from Australia and Singapore.

 “Ennore is also a natural gateway from/to ICD Bangalore covered with efficient rail connectivity and will provide a best in class service to the fast-growing automotive industry,” the carriers said.

However, this week the 9326 TEU APL Boston has had to relocate to the Chennai Container Terminal after waiting unsuccessfully for a berth for more than two days.

According to The Loadstar CMA CGM Agencies (India) said: “This will allow us to proceed with loading the export containers already at the terminal. Our priority remains to clear as many export containers as possible.”

Ennore has been facing power outages for the past week, on top of capacity pressure from a flurry of unscheduled or ad-hoc transhipment ship calls from MSC, taking advantage of its ownership interest in AECT.

“Ennore had cargo yards clogged with containers that could not get loaded onto the scheduled sailings,” a Chennai-based ship agent told The Loadstar. “And available berthing windows were being allotted out of turn, creating a chaotic situation for vessel schedules.”

Coincidentally, the Western Australian Government is celebrating the arrival of WA avocados in India by sea after successful a commercial trial.

More than 320 tonnes of the fruit, valued at over $1.6 million, have now been exported to India, with most supplies coming from Delroy Orchards, in the Southern Forests region. The first commercial shipment arrived late last year after the removal of a 30% tariff on Australian Hass avocados, as part of the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement.

The government says avocados are WA’s highest value fruit industry, reaching record production of 65,000 tonnes in 2023-24, with supplies building as orchards at Gingin, Carabooda, Busselton, Manjimup and Pemberton come to full maturity in the next five years.