ChPT bid to retain EXIM trade; to sustain its cargo profile

Source: http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/chpt-bid-to-retain-exim-trade-to-sustain-its-cargo-profile/

Shaken by the increased diversion of containers and other cargoes to the recently developed private ports in the near vicinity, Chennai Port management has begun the exercise of interactive sessions with its potential users to keep sustained cargo profile.
According to EXIM sources, the interaction and trade facilitation meet with automobile industry and Ro-Ro liner by Chennai Port on April 15 was indeed a right step forward by the management to make its users to continue with their patronage for the port.
Speaking to Sagar Sandesh, Mr. N. Vaiyapuri, Traffic Manager, Chennai Port Trust, said: “We have planned a series of such commodity-wise meetings in the future, specifically designed to clear all doubts and misconceptions about the port among the users.”
About 30 delegates from all the leading automobile industries like Hyundai, Nissan, Ford, Ashok Leyland, Caterpillar, Volkswagen, Tata Motors and liners like NYK, K-Line, MOL, Parekh Marine, WLL, JM Baxi, Merchant Shipping and EAL attended the event.

It may be noted here that Chennai Port is the number one port in the country in terms of car-handling and its dominance in the sector is growing exponentially over the recent years. In 2012-13 period, the port exported 2, 72,345 car units and handled 95 RORO vessels for its major clients like Hyundai, Ford and Nissan.
The one-hour interaction has helped the port management to understand the problems of the automobile industry and liners while exporting or importing their goods via Chennai Port.
At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Vaiyapuri made an elaborate presentation highlighting the advantage of Chennai Port for automobile sector. He also apprised the attending delegates of the future plans of the port with regard to automobile sector.
“What do you want from Chennai Port? Tell us” was the opening remark from Mr. P. C. Parida, Deputy Chairman, Chennai Port Trust, who presided over the interactive session. 
He asked the participants to air their grievances without any reservation and announced that the main purpose of organising such a meet is to facilitate the trade, which ultimately benefit both users and port.
Mr. Parida also explained about the future plans at the port for the automobile sector. 
He mentioned about the project of multi-level car parking, a dedicated facility for all car exporters and importers.
When the traffic congestion issue was raised by most of the stakeholders, he  clarified that the Thiruvottiyur Parking Yard is taking shape and once the facility is thrown open for use (possibly by June), it would streamline the movement of trailer lorries to a great extent.
Mr. Parida also accepted the point of stakeholders on the safe transportation of cars to and from the port and announced that one lane (of the total six lanes at the Zero Gate) would be a dedicated lane for car-carriers.