CHENSAA Holds 68th AGM; Discusses New Developments in EXIM Trade

The 68^th Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) of the Chennai & Ennore Ports Steamer Agents Association (CHENSAA) held on 25 July, 2025 at Radisson Blu Hotel in Chennai.

Addressing the gathering, Mr.Y.Leeladharan, Chairman, CHENSAA, elaborated on the key developments in the trade and discussed about the important bottlenecks which need to be suitably represented with respective authorities concerned to facilitate the trade under ‘Ease of Doing’ business for smooth compliance of procedures, and also handle more volumes /seamless movement of cargoes. Mr. Leeladharan also mentioned that CHENSAA will continue to contribute its best for the growth of the country.

During the meeting, Chairman Leeladharan read the Annual Report of the Association for the year 2024 – 2025 and briefed the initiatives taken by CHENSAA and thanked his team for their contribution. He also mentioned some of the important achievements of the Association during the said period.

Besides, the Chairman thanked the Principal Chief Commissioner of Customs, Commissioners and all officials of Customs in Chennai for their guidance to its members. He also thanked The Chairman, Deputy Chairman and senior officials of Chennai Port Authority and the container Terminals like CITPL, CCTL and the Chairman and Managing Director and the officials of Kamarajar Port (KPL) and the officials of Adani Ennore and Kattupalli Port/Terminals for extending their kind support to the members of CHENSAA.

Chairman mentioned that as and when required, CHENSAA had an effective joint discussion with Trade bodies viz. CCBA/NACFS/FIEO/Chambers/ Terminals /CII and Ports/Customs / Immigration/Port Health Officer / MMD/ all respective statutory authorities to streamline the procedures and thanked all of them for their kind co-operation.

Regarding implementation of SCMTR Regulation across the Country, Mr.Leeladharan congratulated CBIC officials for successful implementation of SAM/SEI and in certain Ports SDM/SDN and in the process of implementing in balance Ports. Being a transition period, some technical issues/errors which been encountering by its members have been timely represented by CHENSAA with the respective officials to clarify/clear the errors for successful filing of manifest.

He further mentioned that as per the SCMTR system, whilst vessel is calling 1^st Indian Port with SB Cargo, the agent has to file the SAM with SB cargo and FROB details, which is an Herculean Task as the Bills of Lading details except cargo sought for other Ports, may not be available in advance. For non-containerized cargoes (dry bulk/liquid bulk / break-bulk/other type of vessels exclude Container vessels), being Charterers market, multiple agents will be handling the vessel at different Ports, under the circumstances, Charterers/Owners/especially Importers do not want to disclose the information (Bills of lading details) to the last Port agents who are not concerned for their cargo.

Since the manifest been filed at respective Ports by respective agents, requesting the officials of CBIC to kindly examine / resolve by dispensing with such procedures as imposing penalty for non-compliance is not the solution for the practical difficulties.

“CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION BETWEEN BUYERS AND SELLERS NEED TO BE COMPLIED WITH…”

Mr.Leeladharan has highlighted that contractual obligation between buyers and sellers need to be complied with, well in advance then only ship agents/shipping lines will get the copy Bills of Lading to file the Manifest as per new regulation, hence, he has requested officials of CBIC to consider/organize An Awareness OUTREACH PROGRAM in all over India at regular intervals in order the Importers and Exporters understand the statutory requirement for timely compliance. Also, he exhorted the officials for widely publishing/educating the trade on the requirement in daily News Papers/Media which may lead to 100% success.

HANDLING OF SEA TO SEA TRANSSHIPMENT CONTAINERS:

Mr.Leeladharan has requested the honorable Shipping Ministry / CBIC to facilitate the trade by dispensing with ETP (Export Transshipment Permit) documentation procedures for Sea to Sea Transshipment Containers in India as this additional procedure is time consuming/cost, leading to shipping line could not succeed in connecting the containers timely to planned mother vessels at Gateway Ports, which is discouraging the trade to handle more volumes. Such procedures do not exist in neighbouring Foreign Transshipment Ports where huge volumes been seamlessly handling. Shipping Lines are to be permitted to file the manifest directly in Icegate by excluding additional documentation procedures at Origin Port and Gateway Ports which may facilitate Exporters to avail Draw Back and IGST Refund as applicable.

During the freewheeling discussion with members, Mr. A. A. Krishnan, Vice Chairman (Container Sector), clarified on various doubts raised by the members.

While addressing the gathering, Mr. Arul Augustin Joseph, Vice Chairman (Bulk Sector), updated the Association members on the ongoing construction of dedicated office building for the Association.

After the discussions, Mr. Arul Augustin Joseph rendered vote of thanks. A large number of CHENSAA members attended the AGM, which culminated with a dinner.