Media Release

Mangalore, Dec 2: Main line container vessel of M/s Pacific International Lines (PIL) – M V Kota Halus from East Africa (Port Matwara) called at New Mangalore Port on Monday December 2. This is the 5th main line vessel which called at the Port during the current financial year. The vessel commenced its operation of unloading 175 boxes of raw cashew to various cashew processing units situated in and around Mangalore. The vessel while sailing back to East Africa enroute Jubail Ali in Dubai will load export containers.

Another main line vessel M V Kota Nalus is expected to call at the Port on December 10 and M V Kota Haram is expected on December 23. Both these two vessels will be sailing back to East Africa with export containers enroute Singapore. The advantage of main line vessel directly calling at the Port is the reduced transit time and economical handling cost. The voyage from East Africa to Mangalore takes only 9-10 days whereas vessels via Colombo takes 28 days.
 
Dr P Tamilvanan, chairman stated that this is the result of NMPT’s marketing efforts. He has expressed happiness over the overwhelming response from the MLOs and users by tapping the advantageous position of lesser transit time and lesser handling cost.

"From a humble beginning with one vessel during 2007-08, now it is the 36th main line vessel calling at the Port," he said. M/s Seamaster Shipping Logistics (Seaways group) are the agents of the vessel.
 
The container traffic at the Port is steadily growing. During the current year 2013-14 (upto December) 33,422 TEUs were handled as against 31,272 TEUs handled during the corresponding period of previous year with a growth rate of 6.88%
 
The Port has also witnessed the handling of large parcel size timber vessel, M V Stadt Solingen loaded with 28,150 tonnes of timber(26,525 pieces) which called at the Port on November 13 and sailed out on November 29 after discharging the entire consignment. This is the largest parcel size of timber ever handled at the Port in a vessel. M/s Dix Shipping are the agents of the vessel.