The maiden shipment of building material to Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep started with the loading of a cargo vessel MV PFS Prosperity at New Mangalore Port (NMP) here, official sources said.
NMP said the vessel, berthed here on October 27, was set to sail to Minicoy, carrying sand, cement and grit stones.
The cargo movement was so far taken up from the old port of Mangalore and other neighbouring ports and it was for the first time that the cargo was being moved to Minicoy from NMP, a Port release said.
The Ministry of Shipping had issued new guidelines under which ports would have to give priority-berthing to dry bulk and general cargo coastal vessels, irrespective of the origin and final destination of the cargo. The direction was aimed at saving fuel cost and to decongest railways, road transport for promoting water transport.
All major ports in India had been directed to earmark exclusive berths and green channel for coastal cargo to promote the sector and the North Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) had initiated the steps for coastal movement of cargo, Traffic Manger D Mahadevaiah, said in the release.
