VASCO
A senior delegation from Ocean Network Express (ONE), Mumbai, visited Delta Ports Mormugao Terminal Private Limited on Monday to assess the terminal’s container-handling infrastructure”a move seen as a major step towards strengthening regional trade and economic growth in Goa.
ONE, a leading global carrier operating over 260 vessels with a total capacity exceeding 2 million TEU, was represented by its Managing Director, Masahiro Sakikubo.
Sakikubo, along with the visiting delegates, undertook a detailed tour of the port terminal before participating in a high-level meeting at the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA).
The meeting was attended by MPA Chairperson Dr Vinod Kumar, senior MPA authorities, Delta Ports’ top management including Managing Director Ahmed Mohiuddin, Director Shamil Ahmed, Vice President Raghoba Kotkar, GM Operations Pravir Patnaik, and Sr Manager Business Development Vishnu Prasad. Agents for ONE LINE Goa, Biju Mohan and Nilesh, were also present.
The ONE team showed strong interest in the ongoing developments at Delta Ports, especially regarding the potential resumption of container services. The visit was the result of continuous stakeholder engagement and is seen as a positive indication for the future of Goa Port.
ONE has expressed a firm interest in calling at Goa Port, subject to feeder operator support. Unifeeder is actively assessing the feasibility of adding Goa to its network and is in talks with CMA CGM, ONE, Maersk, MSC, and HMM to ensure container volume commitments post-monsoon.
The MPA Chairperson assured full support and incentives to facilitate these developments. Meanwhile, Delta Ports is also in discussions with the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) to include Goa in the SMILE (SCI-Middle-East-India-Liner-Express) Service.
This initiative aims to reduce road transport dependency and support coastal cargo movement for commodities such as salt, industrial salt, tiles, bentonite, and manufactured goods”offering a major boost to local industries.
With these initiatives, Goa’s exporters and importers are poised to gain direct global connectivity from their home port, enabling MSMEs to expand internationally with reduced logistics costs.
