After being registered with the ICEGATE portal of Customs, which is now under process, the Puducherry satellite port is anticipated to become operational by the end of November 2022. Puducherry port will have a single window clearance system for the EXIM shipment thanks to this registration.
By the middle of December 2022, a specialised container ship that will be run by a reputable Indian logistics company will be in operation. This container ship, which can transport up to 100 TEUS on each voyage, will be very beneficial to the EXIM trade in terms of time and money savings.
Along with linking the Adani container terminal in Kamarajar port, this container ship will connect Puducherry port with the two container terminals at Chennal port, DP world and PSA.
After 12 hours of sailing from Puducherry, the containers approved by Customs at Puducherry port would go directly into Chennai and Kamarar Ports.
The Grand Southern trunk route connecting Chennal port with other locations in southern and western Tamil Nadu would be less congested once the shuttle service is put into operation.
Four years ago, the Puducherry government and the Union Shipping Ministry inked an MOU to launch this service.
It was discovered during the trial run in February 2018 that the draught was insufficient for the ship to approach Puducherry port. As a result, the government of Puducherry organised unsuccessful dredging of the port’s waterway. It was determined that significant dredging was required, and it was decided to carry it out as part of the Sagar Mala Project.
There is reportedly a draught of four metres in the mouth and six metres in the inner channel of Puducherry port upon completion of this capital dredging project. According to maritime sources, this draught would be adequate for a ship with a complete draught of approximately 3.8 metres.
According to shipping sources, the ship scheduled to enter service in December 2022 will be roughly this size and within this draught level.
It will be a shuttle service carrying EXIM cargo both ways between Puducherry and the ports of Chennal and Kamarajar.
