Reference is made the article “ Delay in transshipment hits biz at ICTT Vallarpadam” published in Maritime India on 15th July, 2011.
The article indicates that consortium of feeder operators have highlighted the delay being faced by them especially in moving raw cashew shipments from Kochi, due to lack of timely sailings of Indian Flag tonnage from Kochi to Tuticorin and Mangalore. The article has indicated that this situation has emerged particularly because of delay in relaxing the cabotage law by the Government.
SCI, would like to comment that the statements made above are not at all in order. The issue here is not of relaxation of the cabotage laws or otherwise, but is an issue of the Ports and Terminals. SCI already has SMILE Service plying on the Mundra, Pipavav, Cochin and Tuticorin route. The SMILE Sercvice has adequate space and tonnage available on the vessels to cater to the entire transshipment cargo of the raw cashew. However, as the PSA Sical Terminal at Tuticorin port has imposed move count restrictions and we do not get any priority in berthing the vessels, SCI finds it difficult to cater to the entire cargo at one go. SCI however is carrying as much cargo as Tuticorin Port Terminal permits and Shreyas Shipping are already catering to the cargo intended for Mangalore. In order to ensure that there is smooth movement of the cargo from Kochi for Tuticorin, what needs to be addressed is the increase in the move count issue at Tuticorin and priority berthing for the vessels. Lifting of the cabotage restrictions is not the solution nor will it help in any way.
The Cabotage restrictions are imposed in almost all the shipping countries and India should not dilute its cabotage rules.
While SCI has already taken up the matter with Tuticorin port and terminal, all help from concerned authorities is sought to get the issue resolved at the earliest, in order to help the trade .