International Journal of Management and Social Sciences Research (IJMSSR) ISSN: 2319-4421 Volume 2, No. 11, November 2013 i-Xplore International Research Journal Consortium www.irjcjournals.org 44 Indian Ports Seeking Betterment for International Trade M. C. Shibin Tad, Research Scholar, Noorul Islam University. Dr. G. Ramadas, Dy. Librarian, Noorul Islam University ABSTRACT Shipping is fundamental to international trade as it provides a cost effective means to transport large volumes of cargo around the world. Shipping and seaborne trade have made possible the progression from a world of isolated areas to an integrated global community. Movement of goods by sea is the economic lifeblood of many countries. The shipping business has been essential to the development of economic activities as business transactions and trade need ships to transport cargoes from the place of production to the place of consumption. Shipping plays an important role in the trade and economic development of nations. The importance of shipping over the period has also increased due to the technological developments in transport system. With the opening up of the Indian economy, the international trade has been increased significantly as there are less restriction on exports and imports. More and more multinationals are registering their entry into the Indian market. The imported products are now in well reach of Indian customers. The living standard has been improved; this results in substantial amount of growth in both exports and imports. The term shipping may be considered a relatively slow but inexpensive form of transport and because modern ships are capable of carrying hundreds of thousands of tones, the cost per ton/kilometer adds only a minimum amount of the cost of the goods that has been carried. This enables bulk materials to be moved around the world and arrives at economic cost. That is why by far the greatest volume of goods involved in international trade is carried by sea. The importance of shipping over the period has also increased due to the technological developments in transport system. The movement of traffic in terms of export and import cargoes has witnessed a remarkable growth in India, but the capacity of Indian shipping has not shown the corresponding growth. The dependence of foreign flag ships for the carriage of overseas trade is becoming higher and higher. This article reviles current status of shipping in India and this it also contributes the need of development of transportation and port sector for the sake of development of economy of nation. I INTRODUCTION Ports are arteries of a country’s trade and commerce and the volume of cargo handled by them is a barometer of its economic health. Countries surrounded by water can easily achieve tremendous progress in trade and industry. A port is an area where marine terminal facilities are provided. The terminal is served by rail-road, highway, or inland waterway connections. It is a development which contains both harbor and the facilities for handling of cargo and servicing of ships. Various types of Export & Import cargoes are handled at each Port for International Trade as well as Coastal Trade. The Export Cargoes are those cargoes which are loaded in a ship and go out of the Port and or to the country. The Import Cargoes are the various types of Export & Import cargoes are handled at each Port for International Trade as well as Coastal Trade. The Export Cargoes are those cargoes which are loaded incoming cargo from outside the country and are generally unloaded at the Port. For handling various cargoes as well as for shipping movements and/or Marine Operation within and outside the Port, a no. of equipment’s are needed to support the services to be rendered to the Port Users. To go into the details of the Management System, one should know the types of cargoes being handled at the Port as well as the machineries needed to support the Port Operation, right from entry of the vessel at the port limit to the exit of the vessel from the port limit. Cargo is a good or product transported, generally for commercial gain, by ship, aircraft, train, van or truck. In modern times, containers are used in most intermodal long-haul cargo transport. There is a wide range of marine cargoes at seaport terminals operated. Automobiles are handled at many ports, usually carried on specialist roll- on/roll-off ships. II OBJECTIVES  To study the current status of Shipping Trade in India.  To evaluate the need for development at Indian ports.  To find out the import and export of cargoes at Indian ports. III METHODOLOGY This study is exploratory in nature and based on only secondary data. Various books, journals and websites were referred for this study.