APM Terminals Pipavav Receives First Domestic Ro/Ro Service Call
APM Terminals Pipavav welcomed the IDM Symex, which arrived with a cargo of 800 Hyundai cars loaded at the Port of Chennai on February 5th, in a pioneering use of economical and environmentally-friendly coastal transportation of Indian-manufactured automobiles. APM Terminals Pipavav, part of the APM Terminals Global Terminal Network, commenced export Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro/Ro) services in August 2015, after NYK Auto Logistics India (NALI) invested in a state of the art stock yard and PDI [pre delivery inspection] facilities.
The new cars destined for Western India dealerships originated at Hyundai Motor India Limited’s (HMIL) automotive manufacturing facility near Chennai, in Tamil Nadu State. HMIL, the Indian subsidiary of Korean-based Hyundai Motor Company, is India’s second-largest car manufacturer, and for the past ten years, India’s largest passenger car exporter.
Link Shipping and Management Systems Pvt. Ltd. is pioneering this venture which demonstrates the value, automotive manufacturers can derive from this safe, efficient and environmentally-friendly mode of transportation going forward.
“We are very proud to be a part of this historic intra-costal shipment of Indian automobiles, serving India’s growing automotive industry with safe, and environmentally sustainable logistics alternatives” said APM Terminals Pipavav, Managing Director, Keld Pedersen.
The Indian Ministry of Shipping’s decision to relax cabotage regulations on special vessels enabled this first domestic consignment. Modal shift incentives currently under evaluation by the Government of India will further encourage shifting of domestic cargo from road to sea. Coastal shipping is an environmentally- friendly alternative to overland transportation by truck, reducing diesel fuel consumption and emissions, as well as Indian roadway congestion.