India is strategically located on the world’s shipping routes with a coastline of approximately 7,517 km. Maritime transport handles around 70% of India’s trading in value terms. India’s exports shrank almost 35% in March 2020, the biggest contraction in almost a decade, reflecting the global slowdown made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic. Cargo volume handled by the country's major ports dropped 22 per cent during the first two months of the ongoing fiscal to 92.82 million tonnes (MT) amid the coronavirus lockdown, as per industry data. The good news is that port operations are returning to normal after the disruptions due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), the first biggest port in India, reported that it has cleared all its vessel backlogs and hence has ample space now.

Exporters looking to restart operations are confronted with multiple issues including additional costs due to stringent norms, cash flows and getting labour back to work.
In the backdrop of the economic slowdown and disruptions due to the pandemic, what needs to be done for the Maritime transport sector to bounce back?