COVID-19 surge: Waive charges, speed up oxygen imports, govt. tells major ports

The Shipping Ministry’s directive to chairpersons of ports does not cover vaccine imports.

A day after the government dropped the basic customs duty on the import of COVID-19 vaccines, medical oxygen and equipment needed for patients to use such oxygen, the government has directed all major ports to waive all charges for oxygen-related imports and accord them the ‘highest priority’ in the berthing sequence. The Shipping Ministry’s directive to chairpersons of these ports, however, does not mention the import of COVID-19 vaccines as part of the proposed waivers. “The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways will monitor the details of such vessels and cargo along with the time taken in the port from the time a ship entered in the port limits till the exit of cargo from the port’s gate,” a government statement on Sunday said.