Remarkable progress in handling container traffic

The New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) has shown a remarkable progress in handling container traffic. From just 8,943 TEUs handled in 2004-05, it handled 23,099 TEUs during the current financial year (up to December 2008), Exim News Service reported.



As for raw cashew, the Port has handled 4,057 TEUs (80,666 tonnes) so far during the fiscal, as against 2,623 TEUs (52,252 tonnes) during the corresponding period of 2007-08, achieving a growth rate of 60 per cent.



The first main line vessel of the season, m.v. Kota Manis, is expected to call at the Port directly from East Africa on January 20. The vessel is scheduled to unload around 200 boxes of raw cashew for the local processing units. This will be beneficial in terms of transit time and handling expenses.



Mr P. Tamilvanan, Chairman of NMPT, held a meeting on January 13 with the major container operators, cashew importers/exporters and C&F agents to plan the schedule for the smooth handling of the container vessel.



The cashew exporters expressed happiness at the initiatives taken by the Port in attracting the main line vessel, which is expected to reduce costs and transit time.



Mr Tamilvanan requested all the Main Line Operators (MLOs) and Port users to make optimum use of this facility.

Source: Schednet