Our Correspondent

Madurai , May 12

THE Tuticorin Container Terminal (TCT), operated by PSA Sical Terminals Ltd (PSA Sical), has made capacity additions and commissioned new equipment to meet the growing demand for container handling facilities.

The latest expansion exercise has added four more rubber-tyred gantry cranes, an additional quay crane and new yard space, which "puts the terminal's capacity well ahead of demand and is expected to contribute to improved service standards". The TCT also broke its productivity record and achieved 41 container moves per hour on Wan Hai Line's vessel, MV Wan Hai 262, on May 5.

According to the Managing Director of PSA Sical, Mr S.R. Ramakrishnan, the investment in more equipment and development of additional yard space has contributed to the business success of the members of the trading community, shippers and shipping lines. Since the starting of the operations in 2000, the company has achieved world-class productivity standards. With increasing patronage from exporters and importers and "due to the growing support of shippers and shipping lines, we have been able to help establish Tuticorin as one of the most connected ports in India."

On the record-breaking performance on MV Wan Hai 262, Mr Paul Lin, Chief Representative of Wan Hai Line, said that it has helped in catching up more time for sailing schedule and added value to the operations.

MV Wan Hai 262 serves the mainline call China-Middle East Service, which connects Tuticorin directly to Port Klang, Singapore, China and key ports in West Asia. The new facility was inaugurated recently.

Tuticorin has direct services to the US, Europe, China, West Asia, Asia and Africa.

It also has feeder connections to Colombo, Singapore and Salalah.

PSA International has an extensive global network of 18 port projects in 11 countries across China, Europe, India, Korea, South-East Asia and Japan.

It has handled 33.11 million TEUs worldwide, a company press release said.

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