Global Logistics Solutions launches Chennai-Pondicherry feeder service

Global Logistics Solutions India on Monday launched the twice-weekly transshipment feeder service named Hope Seven linking Chennai Port to Pondicherry Port to ensure quick, direct, transit to the terminals at Chennai and Pondicherry while reducing costs, port congestion, and pollution on the roads.

The new service is a first-of-its-kind short-haul coastal container feeder service in the country. 

Sunil Paliwal, chairman, Chennai Port Trust, who flagged off the vessel shared during the press meet, said, “This service will reduce transit time from 2-3 days to 12 hours.”

Leading this project, Jude Vallabadas, CEO (projects), Global Logistics Solutions, highlighted that the project will save nearly 30 percent on cost and said, “This service will help reroute cargo currently taking the road. The introduction of this feeder ship service will greatly aid in saving time, and costs and in reducing pollution.”

Global Logistics Directors’, Jiss Mathew, Naveen Prakash, and Asif Mujawar, signalled this initiative as the start of industrial growth in the Union Territory of Puducherry under the Indian government’s Sagarmala programme focused on encouraging coastal shipping for economic growth. They said, “This service is expected to greatly benefit the Pondicherry and Cuddalore Industrial clusters. Since water transport emits less CO2 than the road, the added advantage of this service is the reduction in Green House Gas emissions in alignment with the United Nations sustainability goals.”

Naveen Prakash informed Indian Transport & Logistics News that the service at Port of Chennai will cater to both the terminals namely DP World and PSA. "If there is enough inducement of containers our vessel will also call Kamarajar Port also known as Ennore (Adani). This service will connect EXIM cargo from the port of Pondichery to Chennai," he added. 

He also welcomed any exporters or importers based out of Pondicherry, Cuddalore up to Trichy who depend on the road to move their containerised cargo to Chennai or Ennore port to use this service. 

Prakash noted that the idea is to connect the industry to Chennai Port in a more efficient manner. "There is a cost reduction, lessening road congestion, the safety of cargo, road safety, reducing carbon emission and MNC clients can encash carbon credit," he said. 

Global Logistics did the study for 2 years before launching this service.  

"In 2017, Chennai Port took the initiative to develop Pondicherry Port as its satellite port. Union government took the decision to do the capital dredging as the trail run made by the same ship in 2018 faced issues due to low draught in the approach of the Pondicherry Port. Now the dredging is complete and the port is ready for operations," Prakash said. 

He also informed that customers can expect to use Pondicherry Port infrastructure to customs clear their import and export cargo at Pondicherry itself.

"EXIM trade can use the Pondicherry Port and CFS infrastructure to load and store their cargo and containers. Shipping lines will provide facilities to offload empty import containers at Pondicherry Port instead of bringing back the empty containers to the Chennai container yard, most of them are now in Manali - Ponneri area. Shipping lines will provide empty containers for export at Pondicherry Port itself so shippers don’t have to send trailers to pick up the empty container from the Chennai container yard," he added.

The Global Logistics director also pointed out the possibility of starting LCL consolidation services at Pondicherry Port, moving domestic cargo to and from Pondicherry port to Chennai and moving reefer cargo -pharma, sea-food and horticulture in a safe and economical manner directly into the port.