VOC Port felicitates Port users for exemplary performance

TUTICORIN : On 01.04.2023, VOC Port, the gateway Seaport of South India, organised ‘Awards Nite’, to celebrate and felicitate the achievements of key industry players, whose services have had a transformative impact on the Port’s logistics performances.

Shri Sudhansh Pant, IAS, Secretary, Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, graced the occasion as Chief Guest and presented the Awards, in the presence of Shri T.K. Ramachandran, I.A.S., Chairperson, VOC Port and Shri Bimal Kumar Jha, Deputy Chairperson, VOC Port.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sudhansh Pant, IAS, Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, appreciated the commendable achievements of the Port Users & the Trade Fraternity, the Development Partners of the Port  andappreciated the VOC Port’s initiatives on Port-led Industrialization through Tuticorin SPEEDZ and assured of favourable consideration to Port’s ambitious Outer Harbour Project. He also stated that, in order to make the Ports, Shipping and Waterways segment more vibrant, each of the Ports should have very good connectivity, and if there are any missing infrastructure gaps, they should be developed within a time bound manner under PM Gati Shakthi Master Plan, to reduce the logistics cost from 12% to 8%. He also congratulated the Officers & Staff of the Port for the commendable traffic performance of 38.04 million Tonnes during the Financial year 2022-23.

Shri T.K. Ramachandran, IAS, Chairperson, presided over the event and in his address, he lauded the commitment and innovation portrayed by the Port users to drive the logistics industry forward and promised to create the necessary cargo handling infrastructure required to cater the needs of the trade.

Shri Bimal Kumar Jha, Deputy Chairperson, VOC Port Authority, the Guest of Honour for the event, stated that, with the ongoing infrastructure development projects and Green Port initiatives, VOC Port is poised for a big leap in becoming a Transhipment Hub of East Coast of India.

VOC Port has been working with various Port Users & the Development Partners, in the logistics supply chain like Steamer Agents, Stevedores, Container Vessel Operators, Container Liners, Container Freight Stations, Custom House Agents, Exporters, Importers, and stakeholders to help them achieve their business goals. The vibrant Seaport Service provided by VOC Port and efficient utilisation of the resources by the Port users has led to mutual improvement in operational efficiency, revenue, and enhanced overall business performance.

Shri R. Prabakar, Traffic Manager, VOC Port Authority, welcomed the gathering. Shri Giriraj Singh Rathod, Secretary, VOC Port Authority, proposed the Vote of Thanks. The Awards ceremony was attended by the region’s top industry players and other key stakeholders.