The Hindu Business Line : New Mangalore Port sees increase in coffee cargo

The New Mangalore Port handled 35,726 tonnes of coffee cargo till October during the current financial year as against the annual traffic of 21,717 tonnes in 2005-06.

The number of containers carrying coffee cargo increased from 1,113 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) during 2005-06 to 1,730 TEUs till October during the current fiscal.

A press release by the Traffic Manager of New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), Mr S. Gopalakrishna, said here on Tuesday that coffee cargoes from the hinterland of the port, hitherto moving through the neighbouring ports, have started coming to New Mangalore Port.

Stating that more users have started moving their cargo through the port, the release said Mearsk — one of the main line operators — has inducted a new vessel `Tiger Creek' to meet the enhanced needs of the reefer cargo exporters.

The vessel is equipped with 154 reefer plug points.

The port is also gearing up to create additional plug points for the smooth handling of reefer cargo.

The release said that 71 containers of 141 TEUs were handled in this special vessel.

The port handled 63 containers of coffee cargo during the off-season period in the above vessel

The release attributed the growth in cargo volumes to the business development drives made by the NMPT at various locations in Karnataka.

Recently NMPT, in association with Federations of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, had organised a trade meet in Bangalore.

The meet was attended by a large number of importers and exporters, the release added.