The arrival of the first foreign container vessel at Beypore port bolstered the confidence of cargo dealers and stakeholders, said Abraham V Kuriakose, port officer.
A container vessel, MV Karuthal of Trans Asia, with 1,600 metric tonne capacity arrived at the port recently on its way to Kochi from Jebel Ali port in UAE.
Cargo transportation from Beypore is now limited to Lakshadweep Island. The port officials expect to transfer 20 per cent of the cargo, presently moving by roads, to water transport by 2015.
With the arrival of the vessel, the initiatives of the port department to promote coastal shipping and water transport of cargo through Beypore Port received a fillip.
The arrival of the vessel, that can transport 94 containers, bolstered the confidence of cargo dealers and stakeholders, Kuriakose said. The development of Beypore port also received a fillip with the budget allocation of Rs 6.75 crore, he added.
When we were promoting coastal shipping, the cargo dealers had many doubts regarding the infrastructure facility and depth of the port and we expect that the entry of the container vessel (67.5 m x 12.8 m) would clear their apprehensions, he added.
Water transport between Beypore and other ports in the state and also with foreign ports can be promoted by developing the port.
The port officer said that already proposed works including the construction of a new wharf is expected to get a boost with the budget allocation.
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