KOLLAM PORT

KOLLAM: The maiden cargo handling operation by the 1,000-dwt (deadweight tonnage) ship MV Anakuri at the newly commissioned Kollam Port is a “big success,” according to the shipping agent, the exporter and the cargo purchaser who chartered the ship. This has paved the way for the arrival of the next ship soon.

There was apprehension on how the project would shape out after loading activities were suspended following labour problems and there was uncertainty over when it would resume.

The shipping agent, Antony Michael Kishore, and the cargo purchaser, Mohammed Wahid, reached Kollam on Wednesday with a team of expert loading workers and resumed the loading operations. Instead of the small bags, the sand was filled in bags of one-tonne capacity and loaded onto the ship.

Consignments

The ship berthed at Kollam usually takes only 10 hours to complete loading or five hours to discharge when operating from the Tuticorin Port, Mr. Kishore said. It means after berthing the ship can discharge, load and set sail within 30 hours.

The ship berthed at the wharf on June 16 to load a consignment of building materials comprising sand and gravel for the Maldives. Some amount of perishables, such as vegetables and eggs, were scheduled to be loaded shortly before the ship was to set sail. But loading problems cropped up following which the loading activities were suspended.

Mr. Kishore said they would bring their own bigger capacity crane too in the next ship.

He said as the shipping agent, he would only be happy to entrust the loading work to the local people provided the work was done in a professional manner.