New vessel inducted for reefer cargo

Mangalore, Nov 22 (UNI) A new vessel 'Tiger Creek' was inducted by Messrs Mearsk, one of the main line operators, to meet the enhanced needs of the reefer cargo exporters, a senior official of the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) said today.

A record number of 71 containers of 141 TEUs were handled in this special vessel, even as the port was gearing up for creating additional plug points for smooth handling of reefer cargo, NMPT Traffic Manager S Gopalakrishna said in a statement here.

Another significant achievement was the handling of 63 containers of coffee during the off-season period in the vessel, he said.

Mr Gopalakrishna said that till October in this financial year, 35,726 metric tonnes of coffee (1,730 TEUs) were handled as against the annual coffee traffic of 21,717 metric tonnes (1,113 TEUs) handled during 2005-06.

A trade meet held earlier this month in Bangalore was attended by a large number of importers and exporters, who inturn have assured to move more cargo through NMPT, he said.

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