The much-awaited mechanised sail vessel export trade operations resumed from the Old Port of Tuticorin in South India this weekend. With a 10-member crew on board the vessel, the MSV Raj TTN 241 is expected to reach Colombo Port later today with a consignment of 250 tonnes of goods in a span of 24 hours. Since Tuticorin is known for sail vessel, most of the people depend on its operation.
After flagging off, S. Princeton Fernando, president, Coastal Sail Vessel Owners Association, Tuticorin, said that initially the vessel would be operated weekly and based on the volume of business, the service would be increased to four trips a week. Citing the Old Port of Tuticorin as the backbone of the district and also the veritable source of generating business, Mr. Princeton said that it had made great strides in developing relationship between the traders of India and Sri Lanka.
Traders from many parts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh would be assured of better prospects from this operation. Since it was the cheapest mode of export trade, the ministries concerned should ensure fifty per cent of reservation of cargo handling for the sailing vessel in the interest of traders.