With this, L&T Kattupalli Port has become the third port in Chennai to handle Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) vessel for shipping cars, trucks, tractors and earth movers. The other two ports — Chennai Port Trust and Kamarajar Port Ltd. — are already handling truck and car shipments.

During 2014-15, Chennai Port and Kamarajar Port together exported more than four lakh vehicles to various destinations.

On Monday, L&T Kattupalli shipped four Mitsubishi Fuso trucks and two Kobelco cranes. Besides, L&T Kattupalli Port has been handling containers, break bulk, auto components and project cargos. “So far, we were handling only containers, steel rods and project cargo. Initially, this may look as a small number. But, we have to make a beginning somewhere. RoRo vehicles will start calling us on a regular basis,” said a top official of L&T Kattupalli Port.

K. Venkatesh, Director, L&T Shipbuilding Ltd., said: “Though Ford, Toyota, Ashok Leyland, Nissan and Daimler are using our port for the container business, they are weighing options for commencing export and import of completely built units (CBUs), as it offers a clean environment, hassle-free entry, and unlimited storage, among others. We have reserved a huge yard for automobile parking.”

“Chennai Port is already congested, and it takes days to enter the port, while Kamarajar Port is brimming with capacity. Hence, the auto-makers are looking at alternative port. Here, the importer can get his consignment discharged within hours of arrival of shipment. We have kept entry and exit formalities to bare minimum,” said another official. L&T Kattupalli Port is turning out to be a preferred port as it gets consignments from various ports.