Sonowal flags off maiden voyage of barges through IBP route

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, flagged off the maiden voyage of barges with a consignment of 1798 MT of finished steel products of Tata Steel Limited from Haldia to Pandu ( in Assam) through the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBP Route) in the presence of Shantanu Thakur, MoS for Ports, Shipping and Waterways. This maiden voyage alongside showcasing the multimodal movement of cargo also harnesses the power of river – sea combination.
The Tata Steel ltd consignment arrived at Haldia Dock Complex through the Railway mode; and were loaded onto barges [DB ABDUL KALAM and DB KALPANA CHAWLA chartered by SMPK] at berth no. 11 operated by TMILL who have organized movement of the cargo and loading at their berth.
With an on-priority slip from the customs, the barges will complete the voyage with the help of operator Ocean Whale Services. Flagged off and moved from Haldia to IWAI Pandu terminal in Assam, the said barges will move along NW-I – Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route – NW-II.
On the trip back the barges will be carrying coal provided by Fuel Sources India Pvt. Ltd. where LSC Solutions is providing ground logistic support along with last mile delivery, and is destined for unloading at SMPK, Kolkata.