Mangaluru, Jan 14: Container Corporation of India (Concor) has inaugurated the coastal shipping from Kandla Port to VOC Port, Tuticorin via New Mangalore Port.

The vessel SSL Mumbai was flagged off by Union Shipping minister Nitin Gadkari and Union Railway minister Piyush Goyal in presence of senior railway, shipping and Concor officials on 10 January, 2019. On its maiden voyage the Indian flagged off container vessel arrived at New Mangalore port on 13 January 2019 and continued its journey in the evening of same day to Cochin port. The vessel unloaded 37 import containers and loaded 80 export containers at New Mangalore Port.

Concor will carry domestic and exim containerized cargo in coastal shipping. This service aims to provide better connectivity from Southern India to western and northern India through this sea route. Concor has made arrangements for last mile connectivity through rail from New Mangalore port to Bengaluru to cater the trade fraternity in around Bengaluru, apart from local Mangaluru requirements.

This coastal route will have weekly service and two vessels of the capacity to carry 700 containers each will be deployed in the beginning.

The coastal movement of cargo through waterways is seamless and the benefit of being environmental friendly apart from the reduced cost in comparison with rail and road transportation.