Concor invites global bids from shipping companies

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

31 Jan 2008

In an effort to include shipping companies as part of its value chain, the state-owned Container Corporation of India (Concor) has invited global bids from freight forwarding companies and feeder vessel operators. The public sector logistics company plans to involve these shipping companies in a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to develop, finance and operate international freight logistics services for catering to exim trade requirements of shippers. The logistics services would be developed by using Concor's terminal network of inland container depots (ICDs) and container freight stations (CFS) located throughout the country.  "The idea behind this endeavour is to involve shipping companies in our logistical network of ICDs and CFSs, so that we can provide end to end solutions," Concor Managing Director Rakesh Mehrotra told PTI. Concor normally uses its container train rail network to provide logistical support and involvement of shipping companies would widen its base in the country, the company said. The initiative comes at a time when Concor, in agreement with the Railway Ministry, has opened its container routes to 14 private logistics companies, allowing them to run their own container trains on both exim as well as domestic routes. As per the agreement, companies are supposed to set up their ICDs and bring in their container trains, but till the time they don't have these, the ministry has allowed them to use Concor's ICDs.