The Cochin Port Authority is planning a change in the strategy, moving away from call-based rebate on vessel charges to offer cargo based discounts at the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) Vallarpadam, in order to attract more of Transshipment cargo and inviting mainline vessels. About 3 million teus of Indian cargo is moved through foreign transshipment ports, imposing extra time and cost for Indian exim cargo. Currently, the port authority offers rebate in vessel related charges based on number of calls a shipping line makes in a year. The new strategy of offering cargo based discounts will enable shipping lines to gain greater discounts even if they make few calls but bring in more cargo. This new scheme will enable supporting even ad-hoc ship calls in a big way.
Recently, certain shipping lines skipped foreign transhipment ports to call at Kochi Port, but they could not benefit from the discount schemes offered by the port since the calls were ad-hoc in nature. As per the new plan discount of 60% in vessel related charges is offered if a shipping line brings 251 to 500 TEUs per trip, 75% for 501 to 750 TEUs, 80% for 751 to 900 TEUs and 85% for 901 TEUs and above.
