A day after India and Maldives jointly launched a cargo ferry service between the two nations from Tuticorin, a cargo ship M V MCP Linz made its maiden call in Cochin Port on September 22.

Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of Maldives Aishath Nahula jointly launched the service on September 21.

The vessel will sail for Maldives after loading containers and break bulk cargo from Cochin. It is scheduled to reach Kulhudhuffushi on September 26 and Male on September 29.

M V MCP Linz has a capacity to carry 3,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and 3000 MT dry bulk/break-bulk.

Significance of the direct ferry service:

This brings to fruition the commitment made by PM Narendra Modi to Maldives in June 2019 to start a direct shipping service between Maldives and India, connecting the ports of Tuticorin and Cochin.

The ferry service will run twice a month and provide a cost-effective, direct and alternate means of transportation of goods between India and Maldives.

The direct India-Maldives service offers tremendous opportunities to the members of the EXIM (export & import) trade in India to tap the potential of the Maldives market.

Marine products, construction material, tiles and ceramics, food grains, pulses, flour, vegetables, edible oil, meat products, etc are some of the areas of huge potential for Indian exporters.

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