NYK Auto Logistics (India), a subsidiary of the NYK Group, and APM Terminals Pipavav, have announced the commencement of ro-ro operations at Pipavav Port, India.
The first shipment of vehicles from the port of Pipavav’s newly-opened ro-ro terminal have been loaded onto NYK’s ‘Grand Dahlia’ vessel this week.
The pure car truck carrier (PCTC) was loaded with 1,380 new Ford Figo Aspire vehicles, which were produced at the new Ford India Sanada, Gujarat plant.
Ford and other OEMs are expected to expand their imports from the west coast of India over the coming years, and Pipavav – in northwestern India in the state of Gujurat – is expected to become a hub port for these exports.
Ford, Tata, General Motors and Maruti all have either built or planned plants in Sanand, 300km away, to which the port has good road access, including stretches of highway which are likely to receive further investment. Pipavav also has rail access, including 12 scheduled departures from the port, and has already been used by the likes of Ford and Suzuki for imports. Therefore, the NYK Group is set to provide complete outbound logistics for finished vehicles from OEM plants in northern and western India.
Work on the new ro-ro terminal began around a year ago by NYK Auto Logistics (India), and the terminal became operational in August 2015. The facility has an annual throughput capacity of 250,000 vehicles and is equipped with a PDI (pre delivery inspection) centre for processing vehicles. Pipavav port has a stock yard large enough for up to 5,000 cars, a mobilisation yard for 150 cars, and space for around 500 cars on the quay.
