Unlocking a big success, harnessing the power of sustained marketing strategy, the Paradip Port on Friday witnessed the inception of one-of-its-kind EXIM Container Service at its PICT berth. The worlds biggest container line, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), commenced the Paradip shuttle service under SE feeder corridor. MV MSC Tiger F made its maiden call at the PICT terminal. It will be a regular and seamless call for catering EXIM cargo through the Paradip Port as per planned three calls in a month through the Paradip- Colombo route. The ship embarked on its journey to the Colombo Port with export aluminium cargo of 90 TEU on account of Vedanta and 36 TEU on account of Jindal Stainless Limited. PPA Chairman PL Haranadh stated, It is a very special occasion for Paradip Port as traditionally the port has been concentrating on iron ore, coal and crude oil for the last 57 years since its traffic operation began in 1967. It is time now to diversify the cargo basket as an estimated 2 lakh TEU cargo is available in the hinterland of the port. Now, we have a world-class terminal at PICT which is no less than any other container terminal of the country and it has a 14.5-mtr draft and state-of-the-art machinery to handle container traffic and it has a 5-MMT capacity. The port is offering an unparalleled discount of 75% in vessel-related charges to interested container liners and no container scanning charges to boost container cargo. Henceforth, prospective clients from Odisha will be no more dependent on ports outside the State. Odisha MSME Department Principal Secretary Saswat Mishra said, This is the momentous occasion for which the State had been waiting for decades. We have lots of cargo here with Odisha origin. In the line of MSC, soon another VGF agreement with container line RCL for Paradip-Port Klang in Malaysia operation will be signed by the State Government. With these two routes opening up, I think that the much-needed infrastructure and logistics support for Odisha industries will open up. PPA Deputy Chairman Nilabhra Dasgupta said that with the cooperation of the major shipping lines, the days are not far when the PPA would position as an answer as one of the most modern and most-competitive container ports.

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