Container traffic gets big push at NMPT

The movement of container cargo from the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) has received a major boost following the commencement of operations by a second feeder vessel at the port recently. With this the port is likely to double its container cargo traffic during the current year.

The second container feeder vessel, M V Kinship Bangar, with a capacity of 354 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) has commenced its operation from New Mangalore Port Trust from September.

It connects NMPT with Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) off Mumbai coast for loading export containers and sail out to JNPT. Bengal Tiger Lines is already operating its vessel through the port connecting JNPT and Colombo with Mangalore.

During the first six months of the current fiscal the port has handled 9,980 TEUs compared to 8,025 TEUs, a growth of 24.36 per cent. During the fiscal 2006-07, the port had handled 17,290 TEUs of container traffic.

Said P Tamilvanan, chairman, NMPT, "The container traffic at the port is showing an upward trend since more exporters and importers have started moving their cargo."

The frequency of the second vessel will be once in eight days. The vessel has 85 reefer points which is specially designed for handling reefer cargo (refrigerated cargo) from the west coast. Seaways Shipping Ltd is the feeder operator.

Major commodities exported through Mangalore are coffee, cashew, garments, reefer, plywood, granite, tyres and leather goods.

To cope with the growing container traffic, the port is gearing up to provide additional facilities to handle more containers.

It is in the process of creating an open container yard measuring 40,000 sq metre, Tamilvanan said.

Additional 86 reefer plug points are also being provided at the stack yard to meet the requirement of seasonal sea food exports from the west coast region. "We have taken measures to ensure zero waiting time at anchorage and quick turn round time. We are also giving a concession of 25 per cent on port related charges," he said.

During the first six months of the current fiscal, NMPT handled a traffic of 17.98 million metric tonnes, a growth of 14 per cent compared to the corresponding period last fiscal.

The increased volume of traffic is due to the increased handling of iron ore fines/pellets, petroleum products and crude oil, LPG, coal, pig iron, container cargo.

During the period, the port handled 556 vessels, a growth of 10.34 per cent compared to the same period last fiscal.