Cargo ship from Maldives makes maiden call at Kochi Port

A day after India and Maldives jointly launched a Cargo Ferry Service between two nations, a cargo ship M V MCP Linz me its maiden call here on Tuesday.

inaugural India-Maldives service was accorded a formal reception at Cochin Port, a Port Trust spokesman said.

In a brief felicitation ceremony, Port Trust Chairman M Beenaexchanged a plaque with Captain of vessel to commemorate maiden call.

PK Mohammed Yousaf, Commissioner of Customs, Cochin was guest of honour at function.

event was attended by Deepak L Aswani, FICCI state co-chair Krishna Kumar, president, Cochin Steamer Agents Association, Alan Jose, president, Cochin Customs Brokers Association, representatives of vessel agents and or dignitaries, he said.

vessel will sail for Maldives after loing containers and breakbulk cargo from Cochin.

M V MCP Linz, operated by Shipping Corporation of India, has a capacity to carry 3,000 TEUs and 3000 MT dry bulk/break-bulk.

service will connect TuticorinCochinMaldives ports once in a fortnight.

Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Republic of Maldives Aishath Nahula h jointly launched Cargo Ferry Service from India to Maldives through video conferencing on Monday.

This brings to fruition commitment me by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Maldives in June 2019 to start a direct shipping service between Maldives and India, connecting ports of Tuticorin and Cochin, a Port Trust statement said.

It said direct India-Maldives services offers tremendous opportunities to members of EXIM tre in Cochin/India to tap potential of Maldives market.

Marine products, construction material, tiles and ceramics, food grains, pulses, flour, vegetables, edible oil, meat products etc are some of areas of huge potential for Indian exporters, statement said.