Maiden voyage to be flagged off from Kozhikode
Trans Asian Shipping Services Pvt. Ltd is starting a new fortnightly coastal shipping service linking Dharamtar in Maharashtra with Kozhikode, Cochin and Kollam in Kerala.
Kochi-based Trans Asian Shipping Services will deploy M.V. Karuthal, a 2009-built multi-purpose container vessel on this Indian Minor Port Service (IMPS). The maiden voyage is scheduled to be flagged off from Kozhikode on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
“Our idea is to cover Indian minor ports. Our intention is to bring a shipping service closer to the cargo origin and destination area so that there is minimal first and last mile rail or road connectivity, which is a critical element for converting cargo to coastal shipping,” says Mr Johnson Mathew.
Initially, it will be a fortnightly service with duration of 12-13 days for a round trip, but Trans Asian hopes to convert it into a weekly service “depending on the demand and requirements of the trade/end users,” says Mr Mathew.
The Mumbai-Kochi sector is a market predominantly controlled by truckers. With Bharat IV coming into force, there is an increase of Rs 5,000 straightaway in truck rentals on the route. The Dharamtar to Kerala service has the potential to take away some 130 trucks off the roads, resulting in reduced oil imports and the savings arising from it, as well as reduced pollution, the release stressed.
The ship will carry tiles, steel coils and general cargo from Dharamtar to Kerala. On the return leg, the company is looking at cargo such as tyres, latex and coir products.
Says Mr Mathew: “We require cargo both ways to ensure its viability. This is where we need the support of the trade/end users. Unless and until there is a demand from trade/end users, it cannot happen.”[/vc_column_text]
