To give a boost to the container handling which has become almost a necessity after the relaxation in the cabotage law, Cochin Port Trust (CPT) has rightly decided to offer rebate on the vessel related charges (VRC) to all container ships for one year till September 2013. The tariff after rebate is so framed that it will match with that of the Colombo port for mainline vessels with international ports of call in America, Europe, Africa, Australia and China. While foreign feeder vessels get 30% concession, a mainline vessel of 60,000 gross register tonnage for a 12-hour stay at the port will attract a concession up to 80%. The Traffic Manager, CPT, Mr. C.Unnikrishnan Nair was of the view that the tariff in VRC that matches with that of the Colombo Port would attract more mainline vessels to Cochin port. The container vessels with two minimum sailings within 30 days from Cochin to West Asia or South East Asia will be given 50% concession provided only 20 % of the cargo loaded at ICTT is for Colombo. Apart from the rebate on the VRC, the port is also taking efforts to increase its draft to a uniform 14 .5 meter one. Once this draft of 14.5 meter is achieved, even the mother vessels also can berth at ICTT. According to a port official, “The terminal can now berth vessels up to a capacity of 4,000 TEU. A 13 meter draft has already been achieved and dredging is in progress”. All the efforts of the CPT are focused on transforming the ICTT as a major transshipment hub in Southeast Asia. As of now, it is said, 50% of the cargo from India is transshipped only at overseas ports like Colombo, Singapore, Salala and Jebel Ali.
No comments:
Post a Comment