India's Krishnapatnam begins container service
The Port of Krishnapatnam’s start of container operatios in late September positions the Indian port as an alternative to the congested container gateway in Chennai, the Journal of Commerce reports.
Krishnapatnam Container Terminal, about 112 miles north of Chennai, offers 2,130 feet of berth, a 44-feet draft, 4,000 ground slots and an annual capacity of 1.2 million 20-foot equivalent container units. The port marked its first container vessel call with the arrival of the Maersk Dalton, a vessel with a nominal capacity of 4,230 TEUs, on Sept. 30.
Krishnapatnam Container Terminal, about 112 miles north of Chennai, offers 2,130 feet of berth, a 44-feet draft, 4,000 ground slots and an annual capacity of 1.2 million 20-foot equivalent container units. The port marked its first container vessel call with the arrival of the Maersk Dalton, a vessel with a nominal capacity of 4,230 TEUs, on Sept. 30.
“Container handling services at KPCT endorse the strategic location of the port linking it to key overseas import and export destinations, and offering connectivity to domestic destinations,” said the port operator.
The terminal will have state-of-the-art infrastructure, including five mobile harbor cranes, four quay cranes, six reach stackers and adequate back-up facilities, by early 2012, port officials said. Krishnapatnam, which started operations in July 2008, is the largest privately-developed multi-purpose cargo hub on India’s east coast.
Port developer Hyderabad-based Navayuga Group recently entered an agreement with state-owned rail operator Container Corporation of India to jointly develop container freight stations and inland container depots at the site.
KPCT’s container operations begin as the Chennai, India’s largest east coast container hub, struggles to cope with increased congestion and yard delays amid trucking problems and surging traffic volume. The problems spurred major ocean carriers to levy port congestion surcharges on Chennai shipments and reroute vessels to neighboring gateway ports.