<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
"Times New Roman",serif">Affirming its status as India’s primary maritime
gateway for coastal salt distribution, the <b>V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port
Authority</b> has logged a substantial <b>13.28% year-on-year growth</b> in
salt cargo handling volumes. Operational data compiled for the specified
traffic period shows the port successfully managed an increased movement of
both industrial and edible grade salt, reinforcing Tuticorin's position as a
dominant production and logistics hub on the southeast coast.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
"Times New Roman",serif">The traffic surge is attributed to heightened domestic
demand across coastal consumption states, streamlined wharf-side evacuation
procedures, and optimized vessel allocations at the port's specialized bulk
cargo berths.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Domestic Demand and Coastal Shipping
Corridors<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><ul style="margin-top:0cm" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Inter-State
Trade Links</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">: The 13.28% volume expansion was
heavily anchored by consistent coastal shipping movements directed toward
chemical manufacturing industries and distribution markets in West Bengal,
Odisha, and parts of Northeast India.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Cost-Effective
Bulk Transits</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">: Port trade desks noted that
regional salt manufacturers are increasingly choosing coastal maritime
routes over long-haul rail networks to transport large-volume bulk
shipments, taking advantage of lower per-tonne logistics costs and reduced
transit loss rates.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Yard Management and Evacuation Efficiency<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
"Times New Roman",serif">
</span></p><ul style="margin-top:0cm" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Streamlined
Cargo Turnaround</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">: To handle the increased seasonal
volume, VOC Port Authority implemented dedicated yard management
protocols, ensuring spacious storage stacks and faster mechanized loading
cycles at the terminals.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Optimized
Berth Utilization</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">: Pre-allocated berthing
schedules minimized the idle waiting times for handysize bulk carriers and
coastal vessels, ensuring a high-efficiency turnaround loop that supported
regional salt exporters in maintaining tight delivery commitments.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>