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With the opening of its new Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Madurai, Maersk aims to get closer to customers in the hinterland of Tamil Nadu in the southern part of India. Spread over a total area of about 70 acres, the ICD is one of the largest in the country and will serve as a major cargo acceptance hub for South India.
Equipped with a warehouse to support faster cargo clearance, Maersk believes this latest ICD will help reduce overall logistics costs by up to 30%, while also providing operational benefits to customers.
Until recently, importers shipped cargo to Tuticorin Port, where it was cleared by Customs, de-stuffed and kept at a warehouse. In line with customer requirements, the cargo was then generally moved by truck from Tuticorin to its final delivery point in and around Madurai. Exporters had to pick up empty containers from Tuticorin and bring them all the way to their factories.
With ICD Madurai as a new acceptance point, Maersk will help move the cargo directly to Madurai, speed up the clearance process and manage de-stuffing and storage at the ICD warehouse. The new ICD also provides customers with a choice of taking the container and delivering it back at the final delivery point, or to return containers to Madurai. Steve Felder, Managing Director, Maersk South Asia, says, “Our operations at ICD Madurai are aimed at reducing logistics costs for our customers by cutting the cargo transport journey by up to 150 km. We are also tapping into the hinterland’s potential by opening up new trade possibilities and enabling ease of doing business for the trading community in the region.”
Customers are expected to benefit from faster clearance of their cargo in Madurai as compared to Tuticorin. They will also have the advantage of same day clearance and gate-in at the terminal.
