KOCHI: The International Transshipment Terminal at Vallarpadam (ICTT) run by DP World’s India Gateway Terminal(IGTL) has successfully handled volume of five lakh TEU in 372 days.
The terminal,which is the country’s first international transshipment gateway facility, handled the highest monthly volume of more than 45,000 TEU in March 2017. It recorded a 17 per cent increase in volumes in 2016-17.
The rise in the business volumes could be mainly attributed to the strengthening of the hinterland network through the various rail and road corridors--the launch of a weekly train service connecting Karnataka and Kerala, while maintaining the rail links between Tamil Nadu and Kochi, besides the setting up of the Green Channel for sealed container cargo at the Walayar border, which helped to slash the transaction time.
“At DP World, we believe in providing smart trade solutions to our customers and stakeholders. Along with our partners, we have been able to strengthen our hinterland connectivity and venture into new regions to create an ecosystem valuable to the trade.
In the coming year, we aim to further amplify our network and provide a seamless experience to our customers,” said Jibu Kurien Itty, chief executive officer, DP World Cochin.
During the 2016-17 Financial Year(FY), the terminal recorded an increase of over 60 per cent in coir exports, along with a 200 per cent plus jump in apple and orange imports. Vallarpadam also facilitated the direct imports of East African raw cashew.
The cashew was further trans-shipped to the other ports, including Mangaluru and Tuticorin(V O Chidambaranar Port).
“The terminal handled 8.5 per cent more vessels, compared to the previous year, from the bouquet of 14 vessel services including the six mainline services.
The terminal maintained an average GCR (gross crane rate) of 31 moves per hour and truck turnaround time of 26 minutes, gate-to- gate. DP World Cochin serves as the natural gateway to the vast industrial and agricultural produce markets of the South and West of India. The hinterland of the port, includes Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka,” DP World said in a release.