MUMBAI (Commodity Online): Port Pipavav has tied upwith Malaysian International Shipping Corporaion (MISC Berhad) for bringing inreefer (refrigerated containers) cargo through their ships to Port Pipavav. MISCBerhad, a subsidiary of PETRONAS, Malaysia,is a leading international shipping line of Malaysia and currently berths ships at Nhava Sheva in Mumbai. Port Pipavav will be its second port destination in India. Port Pipavav will now have MISC Berhad’sHalal Express Service (HE1), a leading Reefer carrier operating from the FarEast to India,calling at the port. Port Pipavav’s strategic location and the availability ofhigh tech infrastructure for reefers make it the most attractive port in Gujarat for reefer containers.

“Throughthis exclusive and independent service of MISC, shippers in the Gujarat region,including the seafood exporters in Delhi, Ludhiana and Jaipur, will get a direct and fast service to China and other South East Asian ports,” said PrakashTulsiani, MD, Port Pipavav.“Weare keen to make Port Pipavav an attractive port for North West India’s ex-imcargo movement. This service will take us one step closer to achieving ourgoal,” he added.

TheHalal Express Service was first launched in November 2006. Following the encouragingresponse from the trade, the service has been upgraded with bigger vessels since April this year. Six vessels with a capacity of 4250 teus each have beendeployed for the weekly service in the following route : Shanghai – Ningbo – Shekou – Jakarta – Singapore – Tanjung Pelapas - PortKelang – Karachi – Jebel Ali – Bandar Abbas – Pipavav – Nhava Sheva – Colombo –Port Kelang – Singapore – Shanghai.

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In  a message commemorating the occasion,Baharuddin Arbak, Vice President,Liner Business Unit of MISC said,“To markthe occasion of the first call of MISC’s Halal Express Service (HE1) toPipavav, I would like to thank the Indian trade for their unstinted supporttowards us over the past 10 years. The inclusion of Pipavav as a port of callin our HE1 proves ourcontinuous support and reaffirms our commitment towards the Indian trade. I also wish to extend my thanks and appreciation to the management of Port Pipavavand our appointedagent in India Crescent Shipping, for their assistance in making this possible.MISC also looks forward to the support from the Indian shipping community inmaking our Halal service a success.”

“Thisis a proud moment for us and I am extremely happy that a reputed internationalcompany like MISC has demonstrated its confidence in Port Pipavav,” said Mr PrakashTulsiani, MD, Port Pipavav. “Weare growing at a fast pace and we look forward to the support and trust ofestablished companies such as MISC to help us realize our fullpotential quickly.”

To commemorate the maiden call of the HE1 Service at Port Pipavav, a function washeld on board the vessel Bunga Raya Tiga voy 104E which was attended by seniorpersonnel from Port Pipavav and Crescent Shipping Agency (India) Ltd, a part ofthe Transworld group of companies, who represent MISC in India, besides theMaster and senior officers of the vessel. The traditional lamp was lit inkeeping with the Indian custom and plaques were exchanged in keeping with the ageold tradition of the sea.

Port Pipavav is a subsidiary of APMTerminals of the A.P.Moller-Maersk group. Located in Saurashtra, Gujarat, westof Bhavnagar, merely 153 nautical miles fromJNPT in Mumbai, Port Pipavav is emerging as an important gateway port on theWest coast of Indiafor containers, bulk and liquid cargo. Port Pipavav is operated by APMTerminals which took a majority stake in Port Pipavav in 2005. Extensivemodernization efforts are being undertaken at the port currently, the port nowboasts of 8 panamax cranes (five of them post Panamax), 18 rubber tyred gantrycranes, several warehouses, bagging plants, quay length of 1075m and a 14.5 mdraft at high tide. The port has extensive connectivity through road and rail tothe rest of the country. (Courtesy: IndiaPRWire)