JNPA Partners with RSA Global to Develop 62-Acre Smart Empty Container Yard at Nhava Sheva

The upcoming facility will be developed over 62 acres on a 30-year lease and will be strategically located just 3 km from JNPA’s container terminals. Designed with advanced infrastructure, automation and sustainable features, the ECY will provide shipping lines, transporters and other trade stakeholders with a comprehensive solution for the storage, maintenance and movement of empty containers.   The project will be executed in three phases. Phase I, covering around 20 acres, is expected to become operational within the next 15-20 days, enabling container storage and core yard operations. Phase II, comprising an additional 20 acres, is scheduled for completion by January 2027, while the remaining 21.7 acres under Phase III is targeted for commissioning by May 2027, bringing the total facility area to 62 acres.   The authorised Empty Container Yard will support the complete lifecycle management of empty containers, helping shipping lines optimise equipment utilisation while improving coordination between ports, container terminals, Container Freight Stations (CFSs), Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Free Trade Warehousing Zones (FTWZs) and transport operators.   The facility will gradually introduce advanced digital technologies, including gate automation, AI-enabled CCTV surveillance, a Yard Management System (YMS), intelligent bay allocation, driver utility facilities and ‘Container Eye’ technology for automated maintenance and repair operations. Further automation will include Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), Electric Overhead Travelling Systems (EOTS), Optical Character Recognition Systems (OCRS) and integrated IT platforms aimed at enhancing operational visibility, efficiency and real-time control.      The ECY will offer a wide range of services, including empty container storage, maintenance and repair, pre-trip inspections, container surveys, SOLAS weighment compliance, repositioning transportation, container fabrication and modification, and transfers to Container Freight Stations.

Designed to handle diverse equipment categories such as dry containers, reefer containers, ISO tanks, out-of-gauge (OOG) cargo equipment and collapsible containers, the yard will operate 24×7, ensuring seamless logistics operations and faster turnaround times for maritime stakeholders.   JNPA said the facility will also adopt robust Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Quality (HSSEQ) standards through renewable energy initiatives, green infrastructure, waste management systems and enhanced safety measures.      The development of the Empty Container Yard forms part of JNPA’s broader strategy to expand its logistics ecosystem beyond the port gates and create integrated infrastructure that supports India’s growing maritime trade while improving supply chain efficiency.