Maersk runs boxes raw cashews to south Indian ports from West Africa

Maersk runs boxes raw cashews to south Indian ports from West Africa

INDIA's International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadom has attracted Maersk's 5,600-TEU Newyorker to make direct calls to the DP World's terminal from West Africa.

The vessel, one of five planned for the service, discharged 1,185 TEU of raw cashews from the West African ports of Bissau and Abidjan, reported the New Indian Express.

The ship also has transshipment volumes for Tuticorin and Mangalore, though the service is mainly devoted to serve the African raw cashew trade.

The seasonal service features direct fortnightly sailings from Bissau and Abidjan with transit times of 26-30 days. The service also connects other ports in southern India, such as Tuticorin and Mangalore, through transshipment over the Port of Colombo.

"There are many geographical advantages to Kochi. The port is well connected by rail, road and sea, it has state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure and is non-tidal," said DP World's Kochi CEO KK Krishnadas.

ICTT recently increased its draft to 14 metres, which will increase its capacity to handle large mainline vessels from Kochi near India's southern west coast tip.

"Raw cashews are extremely sensitive to moisture and hence, cargo cannot be on the seas for a long time. The cashew service, which is just dedicated to cashew nut imports and is customised according to the trade demands, has shorter transit time and top quality food containers," Maersk Line India said.