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. Exports accounted for 8.42 million tonnes — a 9.78 increase over the previous year’s 7.67 million tonnes.
Meanwhile, the 52nd National Maritime Day, in commemoration of the maiden voyage of S.S Loyalty, India’s first merchant vessel from Mumbai to London on April 5, 1919, was celebrated at V.O. Chidambaranar Port.
Besides, a couple of pilot launchers, ‘Nallathaneer’ and ‘Tuticorin’, were involved in the show. Sailing in tandem with these craft, patrol vessels of Central Industrial Security Force Harsha III and Jothi also joined the line. The sail-past of mooring tugs offered a visual treat for the public in large numbers.