KOZHIKODE: A cargo ship laden with 1830 ton of caustic soda has anchored at Beypore port here after a year's gap.
M.V Chowgule 11 left Gujarat's Porbandar port two days back to reach here Sunday evening. Authorities see it as a boost for the ailing port.
"We hope for more ships to arrive at regular intervals," Beypore port Officer Captain Ashwin Prathap K said.
"The port will have the container-crane facility from next month. We are also eager to see the first container ship calling."
Though caustic soda was imported through the port before, this is a large quantity reaching here in recent times.
Authorities are making a no-holds-barred effort to bring a container ship in February. Though tentative dates were set many times, it did not materialise due to various reasons.
The chances of returning empty are the reason for the delay, which the shipping company had already conveyed.
The port authorities have requested the state government for viability gap funding.
Along with that, a variety of agricultural products like coconut, copra, rubber and sunflower oil are under consideration for the return cargo.
"As we are a consumer state, it is not easy to get commodity from here," Mr Prathap said. The idea of a courier service is also being mooted.
