Caravel Pride begins its maiden voyage

THOOTHUKUDI: The Chennai-based Caravel Logistics on Monday launched its first ship M V Caravel Pride at Tuticorin port, which would take the Tuticorin-Dubai-Mundra-Kochi route. The Caravel Logistics which so far remained a chartered vessel operator has entered the arena as a ship operator with the launch of M V Caravel Pride.

Caravel won a legal battle last year for hiring a foreign ship to be operated in the Indian waters after it found Indian ships unacceptable.

In an interview with Express, Saju Chacko, MD of Caravel Logistics Pvt Ltd, said the vessel would have a fixed day schedule which would take 14 days for its return after covering the route.

�Earlier we operated a chartered ship in the Tuticorin-Kochi- Mundra route and from today we will operate in our first own ship but with an extended route up to Dubai,� Saju Chacko said.

�While the M V Caravel Pride will export cargo from Tuticorin to Dubai, it will bring domestic cargoes from Mundra and Kochi on its way back,� he said. Saju Chacko added that the international cargo thus exported to Dubai can be transported again to the Middle East countries.

�This cellular container vessel will enhance speedy and efficient transportation of containers as the �cell guides� will enable it to operate with ease,� he said.

Earlier the container vessel was launched at the Tuticorin Port by G J Rao, Chairman of the Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT), in the presence of officials from TPT and PSA-SICAL. The vessel built at the Fosen Mekaniskw Verksreder Shipyard in Sweden was acquired by Caravel for Rs 25 crore through a private equity by BTS Investments, Switzerland. The MV Caravel Pride has a 585 TEU capacity and can carry varied goods including refrigerated containers and over-sized cargo that could be carried in special containers.

The company which is expecting to increase its revenue by Rs 40 crore has proposals to set up container freight station in Chennai and to start container and cargo rail service to become an end-toend operator, Saju Chacko said.