KOZHIKODE: A new vibrancy is visible at the Beypore port after it received two ships, and one a container ship, in the first two weeks of March. The arrival of the ships has also spread new hopes of a revival of the port.
Chowgule-7, the first ever container ship to anchor at the port, arrived on March 3 with 20 containers of cement while another ship carrying 1850 tonne of caustic soda for Hindustan Unilever anchored at the port on March 9.
The port authorities are keen to revive the port by ensuring the arrival of containers and other vessels under the Union government’s coastal shipping project at regular intervals.
“We are hoping for the arrival of more ships at the port,” said Beypore port officer Captain Ashwin Prathap. K. “The discussion with tile dealers and traders and other members of the trading community for bringing in more commodities through the port is going on. We are trying to ferry tiles and fertilizer, too, through the sea.”
At present, tiles to the northern districts of Kozhikode and Malappuram are coming through Kochi port. “We are tapping this potential,” Capt. Prathap said. “If tiles come to Beypore, it will be a win-win situation for both dealers and the port.” The port is expecting a tile-laden container from Gujrath soon. Authorities hope to get 200 containers per month through two trips. A container will weigh between 25-28 tonne.
Port authorities are considering loading of a variety of agrarian products such as coconut, copra, rubber and sunflower oil from Beypore to avoid an empty return of the ships. An idea of making use of courier service from Kozhikode through ship is also being mooted.
