The Hindu Business Line : Kochi port to raise free period to 7 days for loaded export containers

THE Kochi Port has agreed to raise the free period for loaded containers meant for exports from five to seven days following the request from shippers.

A decision in this regard was announced by the port Chairman, Dr Jacob Thomas, at an interactive business meet organised by the port in Bangalore recently. Many shippers represented that as sailing to certain destinations like Gulf are available only once in a week and looking to the nature of cargo to be consolidated and documentation involved in import of raw cashew, the free period of containers should be increased to at least to seven days.

The iron ore exporters were keen on the port facilities costing and feasibility of shipping iron ore through Kochi and appealed to the Chairman to impress upon the Railways to provide enough wagons for transporting iron ore from Hospet -Bellary region to Kochi. The shippers also desired that the port should take up the issue of charging penalty by the Kerala State Regional Transport Authority.

While enthused by the interest shown by shippers, the Chairman clarified that the port has already taken up the matter with the Railways and requested the shippers to submit concrete proposals for iron ore exports through Kochi. On the subject of penalty charged by RTO on overweight trucks, the Chairman assured to take up the matter once again with the State Government.The shippers also expressed their concern on the erratic ICD container train departures from Bangalore to Kochi and insisted on providing fixed day trains. The port users along with shippers requested for increase in the number of free days for containers and cargo at the port. The representatives from Concor promised 3-4 fixed day trains in a week from Bangalore to Kochi.The meeting was well attended by granite, ore, garments, coffee, silk and miscellaneous exporters. The Deputy Chairman, Mr A. Janardhana Rao and Traffic Manager, Mr H.C. Venkatesh explained several infrastructure facilities available at Kochi for handling various types of bulk and break bulk cargo. They implored upon the trade to use the port exclusively for their bulk shipment.

They also assured hassle free service at the port and promised to take up any issues relating to Exim trade through Kochi to concerned authorities.

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