NE BUSINESS BUREAU
TUTICORIN, MAY 5
Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shantanu Thakur on Friday flagged off the vessel ‘M V MSS Galena’ from V O Chidambaranar Port for initiating the Direct Shipping Service between Tuticorin and Maldives.
Sh. Shantanu Thakurji, Hon'ble Minister of State @shipmin_india flagged off MSS Galena inducted in India🇮🇳 – Maldives🇲🇻 shipping service from @vocpa_tuticorin. As envisioned by Hon'ble PM @narendramodi ji this service has boosted bilateral trade & served people of both nations. pic.twitter.com/cVUmvTGWKO
— Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) (@shippingcorp) May 5, 2023
“This service is being operated as a culmination of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed for the establishment of passenger and cargo services by Sea between the Ministry of Port, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India, and the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, Government of Maldives on June 8, 2019, during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Maldives,” the statement added.
“The vessel ‘M V MSS Galena’ has a carrying capacity of 421 TEUs of containers and provision to carry bulk cargo. It was deployed by Shipping Corporation of India. The vessel arrived at PSA SICAL Container Terminal on May 4. It was loaded with 270 TEUs of containers at PSA SICAL Container Terminal,” said the statement. Further, it added that the vessel will sail from Tuticorin to Male on Friday. It is scheduled to reach Male on May 7. “The rotation of this shipping service is Tuticorin – Male – Tuticorin and it is scheduled to make three calls per month,” it added.
Speaking on the occasion, Shantanu Thakur said, “The launch of this historic and pioneering service concretely fulfilled the commitment made by our Prime Minister during his visit to Maldives. Not only this initiative helped to cut logistics and other costs but also enhanced connectivity and reduced the time taken to transport goods between our two countries.” He said that this service added a new chapter to connectivity initiatives taken by both countries in the Indian Ocean Region. It also promoted, developed, and stabilised shipping connectivity between Indian and Maldivian ports. “This will further give impetus to bilateral trade between India and Maldives. Thus, it will lead to greater trade and economic opportunities and enhanced maritime trade links with a renewed vigour between the two countries,” he added.
Earlier the bulk cargo bound to Maldives from Tuticorin were sent through barges & sail ships and the containers bound to Maldives are routed through Colombo. A service between Tuticorin – Kochi – Kulhudhuffushi – Male was operated by SCI. Vessel ‘MCP Linz’ with a capacity of 200 TEUs of containers and 3000 Tonnes of general cargo was launched on 21.09.2020. The Contract concluded on 28.08.2022.
