Visakhapatnam: In a boost to the state government’s plan to make Vizag a logistics hub, a Sri Lanka based shipping company- Herbilan Shipping Pvt Ltd is all set to launch Colombo-Vizag-Yangon (Myanmar)-Colombo service from September 1.
Herbilan group chairman, Herbi Silva, director Jin Jinx-ian and CEO Ivan De Almeida are in Vizag to meet Vizag port officials, shipping agents and customers. Launching this new service will provide a direct service for exporters and importers of Vizag, Nagpur, Raipur, Pipava, Haldia and Kolkata with direct loading from Vizag rather than transshipping via Singapore or Port Klang in Malaysia.
During past few months import and exports volumes into Yangon from India, Mid-dle East Africa, Europe and US East Coast are on increasing levels. Colombo is the best transshipment port to connect these cargos with shortest transit time, said G.V.R. Mohan Rao, managing partner of, Sai Samrat Shipping and Logistics, agents of Herbilan Shipping Pvt Ltd.
“One of the main reasons for Herbilan Shipping to launch the service is to give direct connectivity with Yangon and Colombo as the first dedicated feeder in this route. At present there is no dedicated feeder in operation on this route,” said Herbi Silva.
Herbilan Shipping is also planning to commence the second loop effective from October end on Colombo-Chennai-Yangon-Colombo and the thi-rd loop end of November, on Colombo-Yangon-Colombo-Navashiva-Colombo sector.
With these three loops the Sri Lanka based shipping firm will be in the position to offer every four days sailing on Colombo-Yangon-Colombo sector and fortnightly services to Chennai, Vizag and Navashiva. With the growth of the market and the support by the mainline operators, they are confident to offer weekly fixed day service to Chennai, Vizag and Nava-shiva and they could offer eve-ry two days service on Colo-mbo-Yangon-Colombo sector.
