Portal to aid shippers find available vessels

‘First such platform, to help cut costs’

VISAKHAPATNAM, ANDHRA PRADESH, 02/06/2018: Cargo handling in progress at the Visakha Container Terminal in Visakhapatnam on June 02, 2018. Concession agreement for extension of the terminal at a cost of Rs.633.11 criore was signed with the Visakhapatnam Port in 2014. Photo : K.R. Deepak

The Inland Waterways Authority of India unveiled a portal for cargo owners and logistic operators access real time data on availability of vessels.

The move is a first of its kind as there is no platform currently available to provide details about available vessels in the market as well as to connect cargo owners, shippers and vessel operators with each other, a statement issued by the Ministry of Shipping said.

The portal is called Forum of Cargo Owners and Logistics Operators (FOCAL) and can be accessed on www.iwai.nic.in. Users can register on the portal and provide details of available vessels as well quantity of cargo to be transported.

The Ministry said the initiative was part of its objective to develop national waterways as a key transport intervention and lower huge logistics costs, which currently account for 15% of the GDP and is about twice that of the U.S.’ logistics costs.