The joint venture company named Sical Coeclerici Logistics Ltd (SCCL) is mainly targeting the coal sector as it believes that India is likely to emerge as one of the leading importers of coal in the Asian region.

According to Sical executive director (logistics) R Ramakumar, importers of coal were facing problems due to inadequate facilities at ports to handle cape size and panamax size vessels. They were forced to import coal in handymax size vessels which were proving to be costly.

Ramakumar said that to be cost effective, Indian importers had to find methods of handling cape size shipments. He said that SCCL will offer importers innovative solutions to handle cape size vessels at cheaper rates.

The new joint venture will supply a full range of integrated services including procurement, inland logistics, loading, ocean transportation, transhipment and unloading, coastal transportation, raw material terminal management, storage and distribution.