The Hindu Business Line : Tuticorin port registers 17.46% growth in box traffic

Madurai April 6 Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT) has created a record in container traffic. According to an official press release, during 2006-07, the port has handled 3,77,102 TEUs against 3,21,060 TEUs handled during the corresponding period of the previous year, registering a growth rate of 17.46 per cent.

This is the highest volume of handled containers in a year in the history of the port. Further, it has handled 40,018 TEUs in March 2007. This is the highest number of containers handled in a single month.

The previous record was 36,215 TEUs handled in August 2006.

On March 31, the port created another record by handling 2,717 TEUs in a single ship (m.v. Tiger Sky). This is the highest volume of containers handled in a single ship.

`Best in India'

Following the various measures taken by the port, the vessel's stay at berth has been considerably reduced. On an average, a container vessel is handled in 15 hours. The pre-berthing detention of container vessel on port account is nil.

To promote calling of mainline vessels at the port, an incentive in vessel-related charges of 65per cent has been offered. This has resulted in reduction in cost of handling and quick delivery of containers to different parts of the world.

The garment and textile exporters and the importers of machinery from Tirupur, Karur and Salem regions are using the port, as it has direct connectivity to the American and European ports, in addition to the Far East ports.

A recent study carried out by the Wharton Business School of the US, under the aegis of the Planning Commission of India, has ranked the Tuticorin Port Trust's container handling facilities as the best in India comparable to international container ports such as Hong Kong and Singapore in overall efficiency, taking into account parameters such as technical efficiency, storage and scale efficiency, the release added.