The directive of the Central Board of Customs and Excise and the employee strike are seen as moves from some centres aimed at maligning the name of the port. With the special economic zone and Vallarpadam container terminal soon becoming a reality, some "vested interests" are finding these a threat.

The containers from inland container depots (ICDs) are to be sent through Mumbai, Navseva, Kandla, Chennai and Kolkata, as per the notification issued on 27 May 2003. The containers from Bangalore and Tirupur will thus have to ignore Kochi Port.

Kochi Port will lose at least 15,000 containers as a result of the notification, says chairman Dr Jacob Thomas. The crisis faced by the port has been reported to the Central Board of Customs and Excise and to the member secretary of the commerce department.

Due to this, coffee from Bangalore ICD and textiles from Tirupur will be lost. Also, as per the notification, it has been made clear that items under duty entitlement passbook (DEPB) and export promotion credit guarantee (EPCG) will not be exported through Kochi or Tuticorin.

The strike started by the workers has also affected the activities in the port. Some customhouse clearing agents who own trailers have been transporting cargo in the midst of these threats. It has been claimed that measures are being taken to end this. It is now clear that high-level pressure will be needed to force the withdrawal of the notification.