VOC Port Trust All-time Record Cargo Handling
V.O. Chidambaranar Port handled an all-time record cargo traffic of 32.41 million tonnes during 2014-15, registering an increase of 13.17 per cent over the previous year’s volume of 28.64 million tonnes. According to Chairman of VOC Port Trust S. Anantha Chandra Bose, this was 1.28 per cent higher than the target of 32 million tonnes set by the Ministry of Shipping. The port crossed the target of 32.00 mt by handling 32.03 mt on March 28. In containers, the port handled a record throughput of 5,59,727 TEUs and there is an increase of 10.24 percentage when compared with the previous year’s container traffic at 5,07,735 TEUs. Imports accounted for 23.99 million tonnes, registering an increase of 14.35 per cent over the previous year’s import traffic of 20.98 million tonnes.
India to Protect Merchant Ships With On-board Military
Concerned over piracy off the Somali coast in the Gulf of Aden, India is readying an initial 100-man team to protect its merchant vessels in the area. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will take on the responsibility of securing the merchant vessels, under a proposal mooted by the ministry of shipping and, as a pilot project, will train 100 of its personnel for the purpose, a government source told IANS. Currently, Indian Navy ships, among those from other nations, are deployed on escort duties for all vessels in the Gulf of Aden region but it has been felt that specific steps needed to be taken to ensure the security of Indian vessels. According to IANS, Shipping Minister G.K.
