52/54, Mint Road, 3rd Floor, Near GPO, Opp. Citi Finance, Fort, Mumbai - 400 001. Ph: 022-2261 3873/2267 9798/2263 2612/13 Fax: 91-022-22679795 Internet: http://www.eximin.net SEPTEMBER 2008

PORTS

Dr G. S. Rao highlights KPT’s dynamism
TPT plans to beef up handling capacity 4-fold
Virginia port offers trade a smooth gateway in US
Ro-Ro facilities ramped up at Mumbai Port

Dr Rao salutes after unfurling the National Flag

The present exalted status and ambitious future plans of Kandla Port Trust (KPT) were highlighted by Dr G. S. Rao, the then Deputy Chairman of KPT, at the 62nd Independence Day functions held at Gopalpuri and Kandla.

Dr Rao pointed out that Kandla Port, which plays a major role in the country’s economic development, had registered an enviable growth of 23 per cent in cargo handling during 2007-08, as against the national growth rate of 11 per cent.

He highlighted that the Port has been registering excellent performance in cargo handling, faster turnaround of ships, berth productivity, etc. for the last three years, in the process improving its position year after year. Kandla Port has maintained its No.1 position in the first quarter of 2008-09, he revealed.

Dr Rao touched upon the recent developments at the Port as well as its future plans, specifically the development of the greenfield satellite port at Tuna, shipbuilding yard, bunkering facility and Port-based special economic zone (SEZ).

In consonance with its position as the Port of the New Millennium, Kandla was all set to be a Global Logistics Hub in the near future. In ten years, the projection was to handle 80 to 100 million tonnes of cargo, for which were planned developmental schemes worth Rs 5,800 crore. Some of them were:

• Four dry cargo berths, namely 13-16, with aggregate handling capacity of 8 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) and capable of catering to vessels up to draught of 14 metres will be developed on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis at a cost of Rs 4,800 million.

• Offshore berthing facilities, with handling capacity of 20 mtpa of various products, will be developed at a cost of Rs 12,000 million at satellite Port Tuna in two phases for handling Aframax/Suezmax vessels, having draught of up to 17.5 metres. For the first phase of development, costing Rs 5,870 million under public-private partnership (PPP), berthing and allied facilities capable of handling four vessels at a time will be taken up immediately after getting government approval.

• In order to meet with the global demands and to provide concessional and cost-effective infrastructure to entrepreneurs, it is proposed to set up a Port-based SEZ at Kandla on the west of dry cargo berths at New Kandla and at Tuna Port. Various Port-based industries such as container transhipment terminal, international bunkering terminal, ship repair facilities, LNG terminal, wood products terminal, etc. will be included in this SEZ.

• Deepening of the navigational channel and its approaches to 13.0 metres, 13.5 metres and 14.5 metres by 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11, respectively, to facilitate trouble-free navigation of Panamax and post-Panamax vessels to and from the Port.

The Port had conceived ambitious developmental plans in all spheres at an estimated cost of Rs 50,810 million under the National Maritime Development Programme, Dr Rao emphasised, which would be funded through internal resources, private participation and budgetary allocations.

The Deputy Chairman sought the cooperation of KPT’s employees, officers as well as the Port users to bring all of the Port’s ambitious growth plans to fruition. He was confident of his team’s commitment towards the cause. 

Mr G. J. Rao Chairman of TPT

The Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT) is planning to augment its existing capacity from 20.75 million tonnes to 84 million tonnes in the near future.

Besides taking measures to improve the quality of service at less cost, TPT also plans to tighten the security system to take care of any threat to the Port, Mr G. J. Rao, Chairman of TPT, said.

In his first press conference after assuming office, Mr Rao observed that the Port, now in its 34th year of service to the nation, had been taking positive initiatives to upscale its trade chart.

The highest draught available currently at 10.9 metres would be increased to 14 metres and, as a first step, a tender to dredge up to 12.8-metre draught, at an estimated cost of Rs 538 crore, had been floated. The project was likely to be completed in 18 months.

During the current financial year up to July, the Port handled 7 million tonnes, and achieved a growth rate of 9.08 per cent when compared to April-July 2007.

Container traffic at 1.52 lakh TEUs during April-July 2008 had shown a growth rate of 3.43 per cent when compared to the performance during April-July 2007.

The Port was poised to achieve 25 million tonnes in 2008-09, as against the target of 24.60 million tonnes set by the Union government, Mr Rao said.

On other infrastructure upgradation, TPT was likely to deepen all the berths to 15 metres. It was also planning to construct 3 jetties near the coal stacking yard to increase throughput.

To meet the growing container traffic, the Port, which handled 4.5 lakh TEUs in 2007-08, as against its capacity of 3.5 lakh TEUs, would convert Berth No.9 into a container terminal by signing a concession agreement in December.

The Port had also enhanced its security measures to safeguard its installations as per the direction of the Shipping Minister.

It had recently conducted a mock drill to create safety awareness among school children and also proposed to conduct such awareness programmes regularly for the users.

Night inspections by senior officers had been enhanced. Besides, the Port was acquiring a speedboat which was likely to arrive by the end of November.

TPT had also put in place CISF intelligence teams, along with the state police and state administration.

To beef up the security system, the Department of Customs was likely to install a container scanner. Modern security gadgets and a dog squad would be pressed into service shortly.

The Port was also thinking of providing VHF communication sets to fishermen in and around the Port area to collect security-related information. All these measures should facilitate a fool-proof security system in the Port, Mr Rao felt.

He thanked the Port users, Port unions and employees for being extremely cooperative and for offering a number of suggestions to enhance the performance of the Port.

He also sought further cooperation from all the stakeholders to make the Port one of the best. This would help in fulfilling the aim of providing quality service to the users at lesser cost, augment infrastructure and shoulder social responsibility of the employees.

He was thankful to Mr. T. R. Baalu, Shipping Minister, for giving him the opportunity to head TPT. 

At the event are (from left) Mr Russell Held, Mr Thomas Capozzi, Mr Jerry Bridges and Mr R. Ramkumar

The US East Coast Port of Virginia is in a position to cater to all of the needs and more of the India’s ex-im trade, emphasised a delegation from the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) which concluded a visit to New Delhi and Mumbai recently.

The three-member group, comprising Mr Jerry A. Bridges, Executive Director, Mr Thomas D. Capozzi, Senior Managing Director, Marketing, and Mr Russell J. Held, Managing Director, Marketing, interacted with the trade in both cities and threw light on the salient features of the port through presentations and meetings.

The events and meetings were organised and set up by PL Shipping & Logistics Ltd, Port of Virginia’s agent in India.

At a trade get-together held in Mumbai, which saw participation from a cross-section of the cargo and logistics fraternity, in addition to the PL Shipping team led by Mr R. Ramkumar, Managing Director, Mr Capozzi emphasised that increasing business with the fast-growing Indian market (currently at about 7 per cent of the port’s total) was a key strategic initiative of VPA.

Glimpses from the Delhi (left) and Mumbai get-togethers

He told The Link that the delegation had fruitful meetings during their visit, not just with shipping lines but also with companies setting up or proposing to set up distribution facilities within the US. VPA could partner them with warehousing companies, trucking firms, etc., for the purpose of establishing facilities near the port or locations accessible by road and rail.

The port had lots of areas for setting up distribution, vehicle handling, machinery handling facilities etc., it was stressed.

Making a presentation, Mr Held highlighted that Virginia port was one of the most successful cargo handling networks on the eastern seaboard. VPA, along with its operating affiliate, Virginia International Terminals (VIT), operated and maintained world-class facilities such as the Norfolk International Terminals (NIT), Portsmouth Marine Terminal (PMT), Newport News Marine Terminal (NNMT) and the intermodal Virginia Inland Port (VIP).

Primarily a container port, though it was also capable of handling large volumes of nearly every type of cargo, VPA today handled about 2.2 million TEUs on a capacity of 5 million TEUs.

With connectivity to 2/3rd of the US population within a day, the port also had the deepest shipping channels on the East Coast, at 16 metres, and had federal authorisation to go even deeper.

Among the PL Shipping officials present on the occasion were Mr R. Jayaram (COO), Mr Suresh Vipin Chandran (Regional Manager, Sales), Mr Sunder Shenoy P. (General Manager), Mr Remmy Sutari (Deputy Manager, Projects), Mr R. Harishankar Varma (Deputy Manager, Sales), Mr Santosh Puranik (Manager, Sales) and Mr Salil Kumar (IT Executive).

Virginia port is today linked with more than 250 ports in more than 100 overseas locations through the services of over 40 lines (almost all of the US East Coast services from India call at Norfolk). It ranks amongst the largest volume ports on the USEC in terms of general cargo (break-bulk and container). VPA expects the growth trend to continue on the Asia-US East Coast sector, including from the Indian Subcontinent, especially through the Suez. 

Mr Rahul Asthana performs the traditional coconut-breaking ceremony to inaugurate the ramp facility

Mr Rahul Asthana, Chairman of Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT), inaugurated a dedicated Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) ramp facility at the Port’s Berth No. 1 ID.

The ramp has a sloping length of 9.6 metres, width of 18 metres and 2 cylindrical fenders. Built at a cost of Rs 29.7 lakh, it took 3 months to complete.

According to a release, this augmentation of Ro-Ro infrastructure will go a long way in attracting and retaining Ro-Ro vessels, which not only handle vehicles, but also other huge infrastructure equipment. It is also in keeping with the Port’s Quality Policy to satisfy customer requirements, the release underscores, and will facilitate the movement of mobile capital goods in a cost-effective manner, in the process enhancing trade at Mumbai Port.

Mumbai Port already had the reputation of handling Ro-Ro vessels as well as project cargo. However, it didn’t have a dedicated facility, with Ro-Ro vessels being primarily handled at 12B ID, it being a corner berth, or at any other suitable berth.

However, there were technical difficulties in placing the ramp of Ro-Ro vessels for continuous work due to changes in the water level in the dock basin. This resulted in improper placement of the ramp on the quay, idling of vessels at the berth and consequent cost escalation.

With the number of vessels requiring Ro-Ro operations increasing day by day, there was a persistent demand from Port users and trade bodies, such as MANSA, for a dedicated ramp facility for Ro-Ro operations. With the commissioning of this facility, Ro-Ro vessels will now be able to work more efficiently and shorten their overall turnaround time, the release emphasises. 

52/54, Mint Road, 3rd Floor,
Near GPO, Opp. Citi Finance, Fort, Mumbai - 400 001.
Ph: 022-2261 3873/2267 9798/2263 2612/13 Fax: 91-022-22679795
Internet: http://www.eximin.net