[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal (DBGT) celebrated on Friday (January 20, 2017) the maiden call of M.V. Asiatic Neptune on the weekly common feeder service between Colombo and Tuticorin being operated by (Bengal Tiger Line BTL). In an impressive inaugural function graced by VOC Port Trust Chairman, Mr S. Anantha Chandra Bose, the chief guest, Mr P. Ravindran, CME, VOC Port Trust, flagged off the service in the presence of the VOC Port Trust Traffic Manager, Mr Rajendran, Mr Arul Rex Prashanth of Maersk Line, Mr Swaminathan of Bengal Tiger Line and all Main Line Operators’ representatives from Tuticorin’s shipping trade.
The occasion also saw the felicitation of Mr Swaminathan of BTL for his meritorious service of more than 26 years to the shipping trade of Tuticorin.
The Length Over All (LOA) of M.V. Asiatic Neptune is 150 m and it has capacity to carry 1,155 TEUs/10,000 tonnes at one side call and double in the round trip.
Bengal Tiger Line and Xpress Feeders are the slot operators in this common feeder service shuttling as a butterfly service between Colombo-Tuticorin and Colombo-Cochin weekly.
It was in response to the trade’s demand that the new weekly service was started in DBGT, which will facilitate the trade to handle more volumes via Tuticorin Port.
Maiden voyage performance
The DBGT operations team proved its excellence in completing this maiden call in just 10 hours and 30 minutes by using 2 mobile harbour cranes with Gross Crane Rate of 25.48 moves/hour and crane and berth productivity of 40.89 moves/hour. The total operational moves handled was 535 [465 moves/772 TEUs (including 2 x 40 OOG) + 30 H/Cover Moves + 4 Gear Box Moves]. Besides, this maiden call voyage stay was only 13 hours and 5 minutes.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
