KOCHI:
In a move that redefines the partnership between Governments owned corporates, Cochin Port Trust (CPT) and Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd (FACT), two of the leading PSUs in Kerala, flagged off the first containerized consignment of fertilizers meant for coastal shipping from Cochin to Haldia, West Bengal, today.
Since 2019, FACT was planning to look beyond South and to enter the Eastern Markets as part of their plan to build up a pan-India presence. They were gearing up to market Ammonium Sulphate in West Bengal and was looking for a viable mode of transport. At this point, the Business Development Team of Cochin Port stepped in and offered them a solution by way of ‘door to door’ movement using coastal shipping which has lot of advantages like avoidance of multiple handling, elimination of any chance of contamination & pilferage, less damage to the cargo etc. Finally, the efforts put in by all the stakeholders resulted in shipment of first lot of 20 TEUs containing 560 Tons through M.V. SSL Vishakhaptnam operated by M/s. Shreyas Shipping and Logistics Ltd., a Transworld Group Company.
The containers after stuffing at FACT, Udyogmandal were jointly flagged off by Dr.M.Beena, Chairman, Cochin Port and Shri Kishor Rungta, CMD, FACT on 28.07.2020. The containers will be shipped from ICTT, Vallarpadam on 29/07/2020 and will reach Haldia Dock Complex around 08/08/2020.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. M. Beena, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust, thanked FACT for agreeing to undertake modal shift of their cargo bound for West Bengal market. She opined that a small step taken today will result in bigger coastal shipments in the coming days, which is in line with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India for higher utilization of the water ways and to reduce congestion on the commonly used mode of transport like Road and Rail.
Kishor Rugta, CMD, FACT also spoke on the occasion highlighting the need for reaching out to new market by the company through a cost effective mode of transport to remain completive in the market. He thanked Chairman, Cochin Port and her team and also the carrier Avana Logistek, a subsidiary of Shreyas Shipping for the support extended to make such a shipment happen.
Incidentally, promotion of coastal shipping is one of the focus areas of the “Sagarmala”, the flagship program of Ministry of Shipping, Government of India and this initiative of CPT and FACT will bolster cost effective coastal shipping of fertilizers from ‘Factory to Farmer’.
The event also marked another milestone of CPT-FACT partnership in signing of a MoU for the reconstruction of SCB for handling liquid ammonia at a cost of Rs.20.90 crore with Rs.9.59 crore to be funded under ‘Sagarmala’ program and the balance to be shared by Port and FACT. Amal Kumar Mehera, Deputy Chairman, Cochin Port Trust and A.S. Kesavan Nampoothiri, Executive Director (PC), FACT executed the document in presence of Chairman, Cochin Port Trust and CMD, FACT and other senior officials.
