The Haldia
Dock Complex (HDC) of Syama
Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP), Kolkata has commenced direct
container vessel service connecting Malaysia, Haldia and Myanmar.
Agented by Eastern
Liner Shipping MV SITC Nagoya, a Panama-flagged vessel under
the MIM Service of SITC Line, has made its maiden voyage and arrived at the
HDC. SMP_Kolkata, carrying 453 TEUs. It was greeted with a plaque exchange,
attended by Chairman
Sh. Rathendra Raman.
An issued statement by the port on Thursday 6 June announced
that the Haldia Dock Complex and Port Klang and Yangon are to be linked by
direct weekly service with a first of its kind weekly express service.
The
collaborative project has been announced by SITC, a leading Intra Asia operator. Through this service the Far East ports including
China and Japan will be connected to SMP, Kolkata via Port Kelang.
The first vessel SITC Nagoya berthed at Haldia
International Container Terminal, HDC on June 6, sailing directly from
Shanghai, China. The second vessel in the loop service SITC Tianjin will call
HDC around June 12.
It is
for the first time in the history of Kolkata Port operations that a weekly
regular direct service from Yangon / Port Klang will call to Haldia Container
Terminal operated by J M Baxi Ports and Logistics. Thereafter, the port rotation of this weekly service
will be Port Klang-Haldia Dock Complex-Yangon Port-Port Kelang/Shanghai.
The port authorities are expecting that with addition
of more vessels in this service in the coming weeks the shipping circuit
connecting Kolkata Port to Myanmar and Port Kelang with the direct service till
Shanghai will be strengthened.
“The
service is expected to benefit the shippers in Bengal and other fast developing
states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and the entire North East as the region will benefit with the faster, cheaper
transit time and direct connectivity for their exports and imports.
This service will also help connect cargoes to Nepal
and Bhutan and emerging NE states,” read the statement. Rathendra Raman,
chairman, SMP Kolkata said: “It is expected that with the commencement of this
direct service the cost of shipment will be cheaper by about 35 per cent for
the cargo from Far East countries to SMP, Kolkata compared to the traditional
route, encouraging cargo/trade owners of India, Malaysia, Mayanmar, China and
Japan on a regular basis.”