DP World Cochin launches connectivity to West Africa

The DP World operated International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Cochin recently added a new weekly Far East West Africa India Express service (FEW3) operated by Maersk Line. The new service with a fixed-weekly sailing will deploy 13 vessels of 4,500 to 5,500 TEUs capacity.

The new service offers direct connectivity from West Africa to Cochin Port and from Cochin Port to Far East Ports. The service started with the maiden call of vessel M.V. Kmarin Azur on 7 May 2021. Inclusion of this service will boost cashew, raw cotton, and timber trade from the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

With this new service customers can connect their cargo directly from Cochin to global markets instead of transhipping at Colombo Port thereby, providing overall cost advantage by reducing the transit time by 7-10 days.

The terminal has registered remarkable 48% YTD volume growth, surpassing overall South India growth of 23% for the same period. This has led to increase in Cochin Port ranking to number two among all South Indian Terminals. The terminal achieved this growth by enhancing direct vessel connections and strengthening rail connectivity to hinterland markets.

ICTT caters to large number of customers across vast hinterland including Coimbatore, Tirupur, Salem, Erode, Mysore located in states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The terminal has witnessed 38% YTD growth in cargo coming from these states.

ICTT also offers excellent rail connectivity to Bangalore thereby supporting customers to connect cargo directly to mainline vessels at shorter transit time. The terminal continues to be highly efficient and productive with an average Gross Crane Rate (GCR) of 30+ moves per hour, which is at par with global standards.

Praveen Joseph, CEO, DP World Port Terminal Cochin, said “Our emphasis continues on improving direct connections and providing our customers with reliable, faster and cost-effective options to ship out of Cochin Port.

“At DP World, it is our constant endeavour to deliver the best services to our partners in the supply chain with highest levels of efficiency. We are extremely pleased to be chosen by our customers, and this further reinforces their confidence in our capabilities to add value to trade.”

DP World is committed to help communities across India in the fight against Coronavirus. ICTT has been facilitating a swift handing of critical oxygen shipments for the state of Kerala. The terminal has moved key rail consignments carrying over 260 MT of oxygen recently. It has also handled over 1,000 oxygen cylinders which arrived by ship for distribution across Kerala.