MANGALORE: The New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) has registered a notable increase in the handling of coffee cargo upto October this financial year when compared to the same cargo handled by the port, last financial year (2005-06).

S. Gopalakrishna, traffic manager, NMPT, said in a release that the port handled 35,726 tonnes of coffee cargo (1,730 twenty-foot equivalent units-TEUs) from this April to October (2006-07) against 21,717 tonnes (1,113 TEUs) of same cargo handled during the 2005-06.

The business development activities organised by the port in various parts of the State has resulted in more quantity of coffee cargo coming to the port. So far this cargo from the hinterland was moving to other neighbouring ports. MEARSK, one of the main line operators have inducted a new vessel "Tiger Creek" equipped with 154 reefer plug points to meet the enhanced needs of the reefer cargo exporters at the port.

A record number of 71 containers of 141 TEUs were handled in this vessel recently. The port is gearing up for creating additional plug points for the smooth handling of reefer cargo, he said.

This vessel handled 63 containers of coffee during the off-season period in this financial year.

Chairman of the port trust P. Tamilvanan held a meet with the authorities of federations of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Bangalore recently. The importers and exporters at the meet assured to move more cargo through NMPT, he said.

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