NMPT has crossed last financial year’s (2006-07) container traffic of 17,290 TEUs by handling 17,516 TEUs during the current year 2007-08 (upto January).

According to a press release, General cargo traffic at NMPT also got a shot in the arm by handling the first consignment of Maize for export to Dubai.

M V Abboud called at the Port on January 24 to load 17,000 metric tonnes of maize and the loading operation is in full swing.

The second vessel M V Noor-E-Mostafa also berthed on Friday for loading another 15,000 tonnes of maize for Oman.

M/s AWB India Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, are the exporters of the cargo which has been brought from Harihar, Davanagere, Shimoga, Honnali, Hubli, Hassan etc.  M/s Atlantic Shipping are the agents and M/s Hassan Haji & Co the C&F and Stevedores.

NMPT Chairman P Tamilvanan while attributing the increase in cargo traffic to the hectic   business development drive followed by the Port coupled with infrastructure addition, is hopeful of more flow of cargo from the hinterland in the coming months.

He has also stated that the Port has made another remarkable achievement by handling 4.90  million metric tonnes of rail bound traffic as against 2.48 million tonnes handled during the corresponding period of last year.