The Hindu Business Line : Indfex II to cover Vizag port from next week

Kolkata , April 8 INDFEX II (India - Far East Express Service) is being extended to cover the Visakhapatnam port. The service is currently operated by a consortium of four shipping lines, the Shipping Corporation of India, Pacific International Line, K Line and Dongnama.

The first vessel, Rajiv Gandhi, a 1,800-TEU capacity vessel, will call at the Visakhapatnam port on April 16. Thereafter, there will be one sailing every week.

Right now, Indfex II takes the route through Chennai, Port Kelang, Singapore and four Chinese ports, namely, Xiandao, Dalian, Xiangang and Yantai. Visakhapatnam will be added to it from next week.

Launched two years ago, Indfex II handles more imports to India than exports.. Initially, the exports were seasonal, such as sugar. Granite was shipped throughput the year, and now, other items too are being added. The surge in imports has been caused largely by congestion at the Jawaharlal Nehru port. Several North Indian importers, hit badly by the congestion, have opted to route their imports through Chennai. They will now have the option of using the Visakhapatnam port, too.

The Container Corporation of India has agreed to provide the required connectivity for transporting the imports from Visakhapatnam port to various inland container depots located in North India, it is learnt.