The fluid situation in Colombo port, where the cargo operation was fully suspended on Tuesday in view of the tense situation in the island, has forced shippers from the south, especially Kerala, to seek alternative routes to cater to the needs of EXIM (export-import) community here.
Kerala Exporters’ Forum has urged all the members of the EXIM community to route their Jebel Ali and West Asia cargo either through Cochin port -Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mumbai or Cochin Port- Mundra Port or Chennai-Dubai.
Those meant to Far East should be routed through either Tuticorin or Chennai ports, it said. The forum requested Kerala Maritime Board and Port Minister to operate feeder vessel services having a depth of 10 plus metres from Kollam port. The board was also urged to arrange Electronic Data Exchange (EDI) facilities and ICP (Immigration Check Points) for crew movements in Kollam port as an immediate measure.
