The recently opened Kandla International Container Terminal (KICT) has witnessed container vessel calls already and has been open to the ex-im trade. The first lot of ISO tanks carrying Haz cargo has also been shipped out of Kandla on board the vessel Hansa Offenburg/708 which sailed on March 15, 2017.
Commenting on the scope of liquid chemicals export from Kandla Port, Mr Bejoy Varghese, Managing Director, King Star Freight Pvt. Ltd, mentioned that Kandla SEZ has been the hub of chemical storage and distribution activities since the past several years. With the opening of Kandla International Container Terminal in Kandla, the company’s shippers are now able to enjoy smoother logistics experience by way of savings in time, effort and costs. The close proximity of the storage tanks to KICT ensures that the lead times and planning related to the logistics of shipments in ISO tanks are reduced and there is also sizeable savings in the transport and terminal costs.
“We are thankful for the trust reposed in us by our client — Petrochem Middle East LLC DUBAI — for this movement. The entire transportation work was handled by Abrar Forwarders,” he said.
Mr Sabu Varghese, Director, Opal Asia (India) Pvt. Ltd, commented that this first shipment heralds the beginning of a new model of carrying out liquid chemical logistics out of Kandla in ISO tanks after a long gap. “Our customers and partners have been encouraging and we are confident that more customers will shift operations to Kandla Port for their ISO tank movements to the Gulf and short-sea destinations as more services are added on by feeder operators out of KICT,” he said.
“We have seen a renewed interest in the chemicals fraternity to shift ISO tank movement to Kandla and we are trying hard to make options available to them out of Kandla,” he added.
[/vc_column_text]
