VASCO
Even as a number of attempts have been made by different agencies and stakeholders to continue the 29-year-old container feeder service at the Mormugao Port trust (MPT), the container ship ‘SM Mahi’ made its last call at the port on Tuesday and was set to leave the port on Wednesday morning.
Sources have claimed that the low volume of business had forced the discontinuation of the container feeder service at the MPT and accused a strong transport lobby of working against the interest of the port.
“The MPT has the potential to be a container hub which is a huge business if pharmaceutical companies route their cargo through MPT. However, this is not possible because the road transport lobby has ensured that majority of containers are handled by them in the State.”
“This transporter lobby is very influential and carries almost all containers of pharmaceutical companies by road to the JNPT port in Mumbai, thereby leaving the MPT with hardly any business.”
“If all pharma companies route their containers through the MPT, no one can stop this port from being a container hub along the west coast,” the source added.
The source said two container ships (SM Mahi and SM Kaveri) used to operate at Goa port once in 7 days along the Mundra-Goa-Mangalore-Cochin-Colombo route.
“No company can survive with less volume, high rates and less infrastructure and hence, while services have been stopped in Goa, the service will continue in other ports catered by the container ship,” said the source.
“The container business is very huge in Goa and the potential to make the MPT a container hub exists so much so that the Railways also saw the potential and has set up a terminal at Balli Station.”
“At present, this huge container transportation business is divided among road transportation, ship transportation and now, railway transportation. If Goa Port gets the volumes and ties up with pharma companies in Goa, any shipping company may consider resuming operations in the future,” said the source.
Over the past few days, a number of stakeholders and agencies like Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) and Goa Chambers of Commerce and Industries (GCCI) have appealed to Union Minister of State for Shipping Shripad Naik, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and MPs to continue the container feeder service at the MPT.
