Mormugao Port, Goa’s historic maritime hub, is making a strong comeback in container trade, attracting major global shipping lines with its post-monsoon potential.
Key Developments:
- ONE (Ocean Network Express), the world’s 5th largest container carrier, is planning to start container services from Mormugao Port after the monsoon.
- A senior delegation led by ONE MD Masahiro Sakikubo visited the port on June 23 to evaluate terminal infrastructure and explore partnership potential.
- ONE is a joint venture of Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Mitsui OSK Lines, and K Line, operating 260+ vessels with over 2 million TEU capacity.
- The move marks a major milestone for Goa, signaling growing confidence from global carriers in the port’s strategic value.
Delta Ports & SMILE Service:
- Delta Ports, operator of Berth No. 10 & 11, is actively negotiating with Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) to bring Goa into the SMILE (SCI-Middle-East-India-Liner Express) service.
- SCI’s SMILE network could significantly reduce road dependency and promote multimodal logistics for goods like salt, tiles, bentonite, and manufactured items.
Other Carriers Showing Interest:
- Unifeeder is evaluating the feasibility of adding Goa to its container network.
- The company is in talks with top carriers including CMA CGM, ONE, Maersk, MSC, and HMM to route post-monsoon shipments through Mormugao.
Official Reactions:
“This is a significant step forward. Our persistent efforts have brought global carriers like ONE to our doorstep,” said a Delta Ports official.
“We aim to give Goa’s MSMEs a global logistics platform from their home state — this is just the beginning,” remarked MPA Chairperson N Vinodkumar, who also offered full port support and trade incentives to ONE.
Why It Matters:
- Reviving container operations at Mormugao will enhance Goa’s role in India’s global trade strategy.
- Boost for MSMEs: Lower logistics costs and direct access to international routes
- Multimodal integration: Enhances efficiency for both exports and imports.
