The New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) handled the first coastal cargo to Minicoy of Lakshadweep Islands on Thursday following directions from the Ministry of Shipping to give priority to coastal shipping activities.
M.V. PFS Prosperity, berthed at the Port since October 27, left NMP for Lakshadweep on Thursday with a load of building material, including steel, sand and crushed stones. A press release from NMPT said this has been the first coastal movement of cargo to Minicoy in Lakshadweep Island from New Mangalore port. Hitherto these cargoes were going through Old Mangalore Port (a minor port in Karnataka) and other neighbouring ports.
MK Shipping is the stevedores and clearing and forwarding agent for the cargo. Export Marine Services of Mangalore is the exporter of the entire consignment, it said. The release said the Ministry had issued new guidelines under which ports will have to give priority berthing to dry bulk and general cargo coastal vessels, irrespective of the origin and final destination of the cargo, in order to save on fuel cost, and to de-congest railways and road transport, and to promote water transport.
Accordingly, all 12 major ports have been directed to earmark exclusive berths and green channel for coastal cargo to promote the sector, it said.
