Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan remarked that  the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) would be able to handle container cargo in the future.

   He said this while inaugurating the Indian Maritime 2012 conference organized by his ministry, together with Goa government and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

   The minister informed that his ministry would soon enable the export of multi-commodity cargo from MPT.

   The port presently handles coal and iron ore, and has been hit by the stopping of iron ore exports and coal-handling. Vasan said wheat will be exported by the Food Corporation of India and pharmaceutical companies will export their products as well.

   Earlier, Vasan said that ships were posing a threat of collision with fishing vessels as they were trying to avoid the high-risk areas and plying next to the western coast.

   As a result of the declaration of high-risk areas, most ships are forced to ply close to the west coast, Vasan said, adding that this was posing a threat of collision with the fishing vessels plying in the same area.