The Hindu Business Line : Tuticorin offers sops to get more cargo

Chennai, Aug 7 The Tuticorin Port Trust has announced new incentives to boost cargo volume and attract more vessels during thefiscal. The scheme envisages rebates for different kinds of cargo for volumes over specified levels.

It is also willing to sign an agreement with exporters, importers and stock and sale traders for handling industrial coal, according to a statement.

As per the scheme, if the cargo volume of industrial coal is in excess of 1.39 million tonnes during 2007-08, the rebate in Cargo Handling Labour Pool levy will be 100 per cent for the incremental volume. For raw cashew imports in break bulk vessels, a 50 per cent rebate in wharfage will be allowed on the entire quantity of imports.

Further, direct ships calling on Tuticorin by container vessels from Africa will get 10 per cent concession in marine charges. This is providing that 80 per cent of the containers carrying raw cashew are destined for the port, which should also be the first port of call in India.

During 2006-07, theport handled a record of 18 million tonnes cargo, exceeding the previous year’s 17 million tonnes.