By P. P. Basistha

Capt Sriram Ravi Chander

Visakha Container Terminal Pvt. Ltd (VCTPL), the private container terminal operator at Vizag Port, jointly owned by United Liner Agencies (ULA) and Dubai Ports World, is gearing up to handle enhanced container volumes. Container throughput is expected to leap owing to rapid industrial activities taking place within the hinterland area of the terminal and with enhanced economic hustle and bustle in the new emerging areas, which are presently providing the cargo support to VCTPL, comprising Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. VCTPL handled 71,086 TEUs during the fiscal 2007-08 up from 56,000 TEUs handled during 2006-07.

Speaking to The LINK, Capt. Sriram Ravi Chander, Chief Operating Officer, VCTPL, said, "We are positioning ourselves adequately to handle enhanced volumes of container traffic for the time to come. To handle larger container volumes, infrastructure capacity addition would be undertaken in the terminal in a large way."

He mentioned that the second phase of infrastructure addition would be primarily through procuring container handling equipments. VCTPL would be placing orders for two super post-Panamax cranes, four rubber-tyred gantries (RTGs) and two reachstacker cranes. The equipments are expected to be deployed by mid or by the end of 2009. An investment of Rs 100 crores would be made for procurement of the equipments.

The terminal presently possesses two post-Panamax cranes, four reachstackers and two RTGs. A major addition will be a new computer software "express" for handling cargo in larger volumes. The new software will complement  "navis-sparks" computer software, presently being used by the terminal.

 Other Plans

Capt. Chander mentioned that apart from handling larger container volumes, the additional capacity is being created to check any possibility of piling up of containers at the terminal through expansion of the jetty quay length to an additional 350 metres from the present 450 metres.

For faster evacuation of containers, VCTPL has efficient yard planning systems in place. Besides, the terminal will soon have a complete EDI system in place. The terminal has been partially undertaking N-block practice, under which the container is directly moved to the container freight stations (CFSs), following the unloading of the cargo from the vessel. The N-block practice is expected to be made fully operational in due course of time.

VCTPL has four CFSs supporting it. This includes, the Concor CFS, the Container Warehouse Corporation CFS, managed by Sical, the Sravan CFS and the Gateway-Eastern India CFS. These CFSs are located within a distance of 12 kms of the terminal. There are also plans of constructing an off dock CFS by certain private players, the land allocation for which is under the consideration of the Vizag Port Trust.

The annual capacity of VCTPL is to handle 3,50,000 TEUs. The potential is likely to be well utilised following enhanced industrial activities in Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

Container volumes of the terminal were modest in the earlier years since most of the container cargo originating from and around Vizag, hinterland was being routed through Nhava Sheva, Mundra or Chennai Ports. However, the situation has been going through a change as VCTPL is undertaking marketing initiatives for attracting traffic from Nagpur, Raipur and also some Chennai container traffic now being directed towards this facility.

The situation is likely to continue, which will act as a catalytic factor to the growth of the terminal. Growth is also well expected from container cargo originating from the Northern India hinterland. It is expected that North India traffic will contribute around 20-30 per cent of traffic share to the terminal.  Currently, VCTPL is provided connectivity services through two trains per week from the inland container depot (ICD) at Loni, near Delhi, run by Boxtrans. The terminal is also connected with ICD-Tughlakabad by CONCOR. There are also services from ICD -Raipur, Nagpur and Kolkata and other locations on a need basis. With volumes of traffic increasing, the existing railway services is likely to be increased.

The terminal is serviced by APL and BTL, the Shipping Corporation of India , "K" Line, PIL, far Shipping and Gati. It is connected across various port rotation across Singapore-Port Klang-Chennai. Port rotation includes, Singapore-Hong Kong-Dalian-Xingang-Hong Kong-Shekou-Singapore-Port Klang-Chennai. The rotation also includes Kolkata-VCT-Colombo. 

VCTPL claims to have strategic locational advantage owing to deep draughts that can accommodate vessels with larger parcel loads. The terminal possesses a channel depth of 18.5 metres and a pilotage distance of 2 nautical miles to the berth.