Krishnapatnam Port, Maersk launche weekly mainline service to China

Hyderabad, Aug 29 (IANS) Krishnapatnam, India's largest all-weather, deep water port on the east coast, on Monday launched its weekly mainline service to China

The service to be operated by Maersk line in partnership with Hanjin Shipping of Korea will provide the fastest and most competitive service to the exporters and importers of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and northern Tamil Nadu to the ports of China, East Asia and Southeast Asia.

The current transit time for bulk cargo like furniture, office and hotel interiors is 40-45 days and this will be halved with the new service through Krishnapatnam Port Container Terminal, said a statement from Krishnapatnam Port.

The weekly call of the mainline service was inaugurated by Franck Dedenis, MD, Maersk Line, at Krishnapatnam Port Container Terminal along with Anil Yendluri, Director amp; CEO, Krishnapatnam Port.

The service has been commenced in response to a strong representation from exporters of cotton, minerals, chilies, granite etc to eastern destinations; with the service calls directed at the ports of Shanghai, Qingdao, Nansha, Xingagang, Busan and Singapore.

"Andhra Pradesh, Bangalore and Hyderabad attract a huge volume of container cargo from China. Krishnapatnam Port owing to its strategic location and being a new age port is an ideal gateway for such shipments," said Yendluri.

"Suppliers in China are keen to use our port as a gateway for their current shipments as it is well poised to provide a very compelling and cost-efficient route for the traders based on the southern periphery of the country," he added.

"This weekly direct mainline service from China, Korea and Singapore to Krishnapatnam will provide importers in AP, Telangana and Bangalore the most cost and transit time efficient shipping service," said Vinita Venkatesh, Director, KPCT.

CONCOR has commenced rake service (2 rakes per week) from ICD Bangalore to KPCT and thereby providing hot connection to the vessel for exports from Bangalore and also the fastest connection for imports clearance into Bangalore. Similarly a weekly container train service from ICD Hyderabad to KPCT has been commenced by CONCOR.

--IANS

ms/vd