Mangaluru : Chairman of New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) P.C. Parida said here on Monday that the port has allowed priority berthing facility for coastal cargo ships (ships which sail from one port to another port within the country). A berth has been earmarked for the purpose. With this, the ships carrying coastal cargo need not wait at the port for the berth, he said.
Addressing the members of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), he said that the port has provided several other facilities to promote coastal shipping of cargo.
Highlighting one of the recent initiatives he said the port has introduced Ro-Ro (roll-on roll-off) service between Mangaluru and Hazira port. In Ro-Ro, the loaded trucks are driven into the vessel, and are driven out from the vessel once they reach the destination.
Explaining the benefits of coastal cargo movement, Mr. Parida said it would bring down the congestion on the highways. This would lead to reduction in the number of accidents on roads and bring down the level of pollution.
The transport operators could save on fuel cost, and could reduce wear and tear of their vehicles. All these initiatives would lead to reduction in the cost of transportation. This in turn could be passed on to the end user, he said.
Aditya Suklikar, Executive Director of Link Shipping and Management System Pvt. Ltd, which began the Ro-Ro service by sea from the port, said that the ship which carried the Ro-Ro cargo, could accommodate 150 trucks and 210 cars. In the case of an all-car cargo, it could carry up to 600 cars.