Marg Karaikal Port achieved yet another milestone on 31st of July, 2011 by adding container handling services to its fast growing cargo-mix, Indiainfoline reports. The landmark was achieved when the container vessel ‘M V Ruhunupura’, called at the port to discharge and load containers for the very first time. The container carried multiple cargo across a diverse customer base.
The event marked start of regular container feeder services to MARG Karaikal Port, thereby linking the port to key overseas import and export destinations of the world through the transhipment hub of Colombo besides offering connectivity to domestic destinations such as Vizag to facilitate and promote coastal movement of cargo within the country.
Commenting on the launch of container services at MARG Karaikal Port, GRK Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director, MARG Ltd, says “The launch of container handling services at MARG Karaikal Port will provide local industries with a cost effective and time efficient alternate. Central Tamil Nadu region is home to key foreign trade industries such as garments, textiles, cement, engineering goods and machinery, paper, granites, steel scrap and seafood exports which would derive significant benefits by opting for MARG Karaikal Port to ship their containers. The Port’s single-window model with customer centric operations, simplified operating procedures and quick response time will avoid delays and high costs currently associated with the container trade at present”.
The port’s excellent road and rail links connect it to important trade and industry hubs in the hinterland areas and provide multiple transportation options for containers moving in and out of the port. With a view to providing additional value to prospective container cargo customers, MARG Karaikal Port has already inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) to provide dedicated regular container train services linking the port with CONCOR ICDs in locations such as Coimbatore, Tirupur and Bangalore (Whitefield). This move is expected to benefit importers and exporters situated close to these hubs to effectively utilize the advantages offered by MARG Karaikal Port for their container cargo needs.
Commenting on this new development, M.L.N. Acharyulu, Executive Director- Marine Infrastructure at MARG, said “MARG Karaikal port is fast emerging as the new Gateway to Central Tamil Nadu since its launch in 2009. With MARG Karaikal port developing state-of-the-art container handling port operations in close proximity to the region’s industrial facilities, the local trade can look forward to reductions in logistics time, inland haulage costs and truck detention period.”
Designed from the outset to be a modern, deepwater multi-commodity port with the latest cargo handling equipments and processes, the port’s modern infrastructure with deeper draft capable of handling even Panamax vessels offers container lines an attractive port of call on the South East Coast of India, close to a region with a rich industrial base and high involvement in international trade. The port boasts of a full suite of capable equipment for handling containers including 3 Liebherr Mobile Harbour Cranes, Reach Stackers and other associated equipment and the port has also invested in dedicated infrastructure for container handling including sufficient open storage areas and warehouse spaces.
MARG Karaikal Port’s operational processes and practices are on par with the best in the industry and the port has managed to bag ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications in a record time, demonstrating the maturity and quality of operational processes followed at the port. The suitability and capability of MARG Karaikal Port’s physical infrastructure and operational practices for container handling have been proven with the port’s cranes achieving a handling rate of over 25 moves per hour with the very first container vessel itself.
The event marked start of regular container feeder services to MARG Karaikal Port, thereby linking the port to key overseas import and export destinations of the world through the transhipment hub of Colombo besides offering connectivity to domestic destinations such as Vizag to facilitate and promote coastal movement of cargo within the country.
Commenting on the launch of container services at MARG Karaikal Port, GRK Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director, MARG Ltd, says “The launch of container handling services at MARG Karaikal Port will provide local industries with a cost effective and time efficient alternate. Central Tamil Nadu region is home to key foreign trade industries such as garments, textiles, cement, engineering goods and machinery, paper, granites, steel scrap and seafood exports which would derive significant benefits by opting for MARG Karaikal Port to ship their containers. The Port’s single-window model with customer centric operations, simplified operating procedures and quick response time will avoid delays and high costs currently associated with the container trade at present”.
The port’s excellent road and rail links connect it to important trade and industry hubs in the hinterland areas and provide multiple transportation options for containers moving in and out of the port. With a view to providing additional value to prospective container cargo customers, MARG Karaikal Port has already inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) to provide dedicated regular container train services linking the port with CONCOR ICDs in locations such as Coimbatore, Tirupur and Bangalore (Whitefield). This move is expected to benefit importers and exporters situated close to these hubs to effectively utilize the advantages offered by MARG Karaikal Port for their container cargo needs.
Commenting on this new development, M.L.N. Acharyulu, Executive Director- Marine Infrastructure at MARG, said “MARG Karaikal port is fast emerging as the new Gateway to Central Tamil Nadu since its launch in 2009. With MARG Karaikal port developing state-of-the-art container handling port operations in close proximity to the region’s industrial facilities, the local trade can look forward to reductions in logistics time, inland haulage costs and truck detention period.”
Designed from the outset to be a modern, deepwater multi-commodity port with the latest cargo handling equipments and processes, the port’s modern infrastructure with deeper draft capable of handling even Panamax vessels offers container lines an attractive port of call on the South East Coast of India, close to a region with a rich industrial base and high involvement in international trade. The port boasts of a full suite of capable equipment for handling containers including 3 Liebherr Mobile Harbour Cranes, Reach Stackers and other associated equipment and the port has also invested in dedicated infrastructure for container handling including sufficient open storage areas and warehouse spaces.
MARG Karaikal Port’s operational processes and practices are on par with the best in the industry and the port has managed to bag ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications in a record time, demonstrating the maturity and quality of operational processes followed at the port. The suitability and capability of MARG Karaikal Port’s physical infrastructure and operational practices for container handling have been proven with the port’s cranes achieving a handling rate of over 25 moves per hour with the very first container vessel itself.