Date:04/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/04/stories/2009070459410300.htm

Karnataka - Mangalore

10.82 p.c. growth in NMPT cargo handling

Special Correspondent

The port received 310 vessels in the first quarter this year against 257
in the same period
last year

MANGALORE: The New Mangalore Port has recorded a growth in traffic in the first quarter of 2009-10. It handled 9.02 million tonnes of cargo in the first quarter of this year against 8.14 million tonnes handled during the same period last year, registering a growth of 10.82 per cent.

The port received 310 vessels this year against 257 vessels during the first quarter of last fiscal (up by 20.62 per cent). A press release by the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) stated that the containerised cargo traffic registered a growth of 23 per cent. It handled 8,164 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

The port witnessed an increase in the handling of cargo such as fertilizer, maize, iron ore fines and containers.

As part of the business development initiative, the port conducted a joint trade meet at Hassan on June 19, in association with the Hassan District Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

After fruitful interactions, exporters expressed their willingness to route their cargo through the NMPT at the meet, the statement said.

In order to strengthen the road network in and around the port, concreting of various roads has been taken up. Towards developing a container terminal, a meeting was held at the NMPT on June 26 with prospective investors, who expressed their willingness to extend support to the port in their expansion programme.