Mormugao Port cargo traffic up 19% growth in in fiscal 2008-09
Despite the global recession, Goa-based Mormugao Port has managed a double-digit growth of 19 per cent in cargo traffic on a year-on-year basis for the fiscal 2008-09.
Releasing the performance figures, the Chairman, Mr Praveen Agarwal, said here that the port had exceeded the throughput target prescribed by the Ministry of Shipping.
During the financial year 2008-09, the port touched an all-time record cargo traffic of 41.68 million tonnes (mt), surpassing its previous best of 35.13 mt handled in 2007-08. The port also outperformed by 3 per cent the fiscal target of 40.60 mt fixed by the Ministry of Shipping, the Chairman said.
The business plan consultants had projected that the port would cross the 40 mt target by 2012. “To the port’s credit, this has been achieved three years in advance to coincide with its 125th anniversary,” Mr Agarwal pointed out.
Being the country’s leading iron ore exporting port, which exports nearly 50 per cent of the total exports, the Mormugao Port also registered an all-time record increase of 24 per cent in exports. Of the total throughput of 41.68 mt, exports accounted for 34.67 mt, while imports accounted for 7.01 mt. This included a record 33.81 mt of iron ore exports, surpassing the previous highest of 27.30 mt.
Container traffic and cargo vessels recorded a surge, said officials. The port handled 890 cargo vessels compared with 825 vessels in 2007-08.
Speaking of growing efficiency at the port, the Chairman said the traffic handled at Mooring Dolphins increased by 12 per cent, and traffic handled by trans-shippers increased by 6 per cent. The incentive scheme introduced by the Port to attract traffic from the neighbouring port also notched up very satisfactory results, with traffic handled at west of breakwater virtually doubling in a year.
Cruise traffic declines
An apparent outcome of the global meltdown saw a decrease in the arrival of cruise traffic to Mormugao, as only 24 cruise vessels carrying 10,878 passengers called at the port compared with 38 cruise liners with 12,997 passengers in 2007-08. The port’s provisional income for 2008-09 stood at Rs 290 crore against Rs 268 crore in 2007-08. The net surplus, after making the substantial contributions to the superannuation funds, would be Rs 18 crore for the year 2008-09 against Rs 39.85 crore the previous year.
With a host of development projects for infrastructural enhancement in the pipeline, the Mormugao Port Trust is confident of retaining its growth momentum.
Among the new projects is the ongoing construction of additional three mooring dolphins, which are greatly in demand by the iron ore exporters and have become a necessity with the huge increase in the export of iron ore in recent years. The facility expected to be up and ready by October 2009 will cost the port Rs 25 crore, including costs for dredging.
As regards its new four-lane road planned from the Port to Verna, leading industrial estate of the State in south Goa, Mr Agarwal says the port connectivity project is being implemented by the National Highway Authority of India.
Mr Agarwal also said that the construction of a jetty for relocation of port crafts and small boats has already been taken up by the MPT. The 190-metres-long and 10-metres-wide berth would be used by launches and other shallow draft vessels as also offshore vessels, Navy, Coast Guard, Fisheries Survey of India, etc. The work has been awarded to Ranjit Buildcon Ltd, Ahmedabad, which has already commenced construction. The facility is expected to be completed by March 2010.
MPT is also in the process of building another full fledged non-cargo berth and simultaneous strengthening of the breakwater mole, which will hold a deck slab 270 meters long and 22 meters wide. The berth will serve non-cargo vessels, including cruise vessels. The contract for the berth, which is expected to be in use by March 2010, has been awarded to Geotech Construction, Kochi.
MPT’s expansion drive will also see it develop a modern terminal for coal import at Berth 7 on Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer basis within three years, said Mr Agarwal. The terminal would have a capacity of 4.61 million tonnes and its cost has been pegged at Rs 252 crore. Five companies have been shortlisted for the project and the concession agreement is expected to come through by July.
Releasing the performance figures, the Chairman, Mr Praveen Agarwal, said here that the port had exceeded the throughput target prescribed by the Ministry of Shipping.
During the financial year 2008-09, the port touched an all-time record cargo traffic of 41.68 million tonnes (mt), surpassing its previous best of 35.13 mt handled in 2007-08. The port also outperformed by 3 per cent the fiscal target of 40.60 mt fixed by the Ministry of Shipping, the Chairman said.
The business plan consultants had projected that the port would cross the 40 mt target by 2012. “To the port’s credit, this has been achieved three years in advance to coincide with its 125th anniversary,” Mr Agarwal pointed out.
Being the country’s leading iron ore exporting port, which exports nearly 50 per cent of the total exports, the Mormugao Port also registered an all-time record increase of 24 per cent in exports. Of the total throughput of 41.68 mt, exports accounted for 34.67 mt, while imports accounted for 7.01 mt. This included a record 33.81 mt of iron ore exports, surpassing the previous highest of 27.30 mt.
Container traffic and cargo vessels recorded a surge, said officials. The port handled 890 cargo vessels compared with 825 vessels in 2007-08.
Speaking of growing efficiency at the port, the Chairman said the traffic handled at Mooring Dolphins increased by 12 per cent, and traffic handled by trans-shippers increased by 6 per cent. The incentive scheme introduced by the Port to attract traffic from the neighbouring port also notched up very satisfactory results, with traffic handled at west of breakwater virtually doubling in a year.
Cruise traffic declines
An apparent outcome of the global meltdown saw a decrease in the arrival of cruise traffic to Mormugao, as only 24 cruise vessels carrying 10,878 passengers called at the port compared with 38 cruise liners with 12,997 passengers in 2007-08. The port’s provisional income for 2008-09 stood at Rs 290 crore against Rs 268 crore in 2007-08. The net surplus, after making the substantial contributions to the superannuation funds, would be Rs 18 crore for the year 2008-09 against Rs 39.85 crore the previous year.
With a host of development projects for infrastructural enhancement in the pipeline, the Mormugao Port Trust is confident of retaining its growth momentum.
Among the new projects is the ongoing construction of additional three mooring dolphins, which are greatly in demand by the iron ore exporters and have become a necessity with the huge increase in the export of iron ore in recent years. The facility expected to be up and ready by October 2009 will cost the port Rs 25 crore, including costs for dredging.
As regards its new four-lane road planned from the Port to Verna, leading industrial estate of the State in south Goa, Mr Agarwal says the port connectivity project is being implemented by the National Highway Authority of India.
Mr Agarwal also said that the construction of a jetty for relocation of port crafts and small boats has already been taken up by the MPT. The 190-metres-long and 10-metres-wide berth would be used by launches and other shallow draft vessels as also offshore vessels, Navy, Coast Guard, Fisheries Survey of India, etc. The work has been awarded to Ranjit Buildcon Ltd, Ahmedabad, which has already commenced construction. The facility is expected to be completed by March 2010.
MPT is also in the process of building another full fledged non-cargo berth and simultaneous strengthening of the breakwater mole, which will hold a deck slab 270 meters long and 22 meters wide. The berth will serve non-cargo vessels, including cruise vessels. The contract for the berth, which is expected to be in use by March 2010, has been awarded to Geotech Construction, Kochi.
MPT’s expansion drive will also see it develop a modern terminal for coal import at Berth 7 on Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer basis within three years, said Mr Agarwal. The terminal would have a capacity of 4.61 million tonnes and its cost has been pegged at Rs 252 crore. Five companies have been shortlisted for the project and the concession agreement is expected to come through by July.