On July 03, 2020, Amid frequent disruption of cross-border trade via the Petrapole-Benapole land ports, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP) [erstwhile Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT)] has started a new shipping service between Kolkata Dock System (KDS) and Chattogram (Bangladesh ) through Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route to transport containers with the aim to increase the Indo-Bangla trade.
- The Container Ship ‘M.V Asiatic Moon (Singapore Flag) is expected to transport 300 containers of Indian exports to Bangladesh.
Launching event:
The new service was launched by Zim Integrated Services in association with Bengal Tiger Lines and inaugurated by S Balaji Arunkumar, deputy chairman, SPMPT.
The shipping line is also in consultation with FIEO (Federation of Indian Export Organisations) to make aware of the new service to all exporters.
M.V Asiatic Moon:
Ferro metal alloys and garments are the primary goods that are being exported through this ship, which is the biggest vessel by size that ply between Kolkata and Chattogram till date. Till now, only small barges with carrying capacity of about 80-100 containers were operational on this route.
M.V Asiatic Moon can carry a maximum of 600 containers in a single voyage to Chattogram.
Key Points:
i.In the second week of July 2020, another similar ship MV Xpress Godavari operated by Xpress Feeders to Chittagong will start from the KDS.
About Bangladesh:
Capital– Dhaka
Currency– Bangladeshi taka
President– Abdul Hamid
Prime Minister– Sheikh Hasina
