Indian firms cut congestion with domestic ro-ro service

Destined for dealerships in Western India, the cars were able to be transported from Hyundai Motor India Limited’s (HMIL) automotive manufacturing facility near Chennai, in Tamil Nadu State, thanks to a decision by the Indian Ministry of Shipping to relax cabotage regulations on special vessels.

HMIL, the Indian subsidiary of Korean-based Hyundai Motor Company, is India’s second-largest car manufacturer, and for the past ten years, India’s largest passenger car exporter.

The development is a landmark in using coastal shipping services, rather than often-congested Indian roads for domestic transportation - “a pioneering use of economical and environmentally-friendly coastal transportation of Indian-manufactured automobiles,” according to an APM Terminals statement.

“We are proud to be a part of this historic and innovative intra-costal shipment of Indian automobiles, serving India’s growing automotive industry with safe, and environmentally sustainable logistics alternatives,” said APM Terminals Pipavav md Keld Pedersen.