Paradip port plans to raise capacity
Unfazed by the fall in traffic to 54.25 mt in 2011-12 from 56.03 mt in the previous year, the Paradip Port Trust has drawn up plans to raise its capacity to 251 mt by 2020 and set up a satellite port in Odisha, Business Line reports.
“The port handled 54.25-mt traffic against the previous year’s traffic of 56.03 mt and a target of 63 mt,” the PPT Chairman, Mr G.J. Rao, told reporters here.
There was a shortfall of 1.78 mt of cargo handled during 2011-12 due to a slump in iron ore export of 7.3 mt and coking coal import of 0.69 mt. All other cargo, however, exhibited upward surge.
Stating that the port’s performance parameters improved during the year, he said the average waiting time, turnaround time and average berthday output improved by 53 per cent, 4 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively over the corresponding figures of previous year.
Paradip port, which raised its capacity to 80 mt per annum by adding four mt through mechanisation and deepening of navigation channels among other measures, has taken up a host of projects to increase the capacity to 251 mt per annum by 2020.
New port
On future plans, Mr Rao said PPT plans to set up a new port at Bahuda Muhan near Gopalpur in a joint venture with the Odisha Government to handle thermal coal cargo and cater to power generation units in the southern region.
Describing the site identified for the purpose as ideal for port construction, he said the proposed satellite port would be a ‘green port’ with fully mechanised operations and negligible impact on environment.
Expansion works
Giving a detailed account of the expansion works, the PPT Chairman said the capital dredging works being undertaken to increase the draught of entrance channel, approach channel and berthface to facilitate the handling of 1,25,000 DWT size vessels is on the verge of completion.
The installation of two single point moorings to handle very large crude carriers is under way by the state-run Indian Oil Corporation which would add 22-mt capacity at the port, he said.
“The port handled 54.25-mt traffic against the previous year’s traffic of 56.03 mt and a target of 63 mt,” the PPT Chairman, Mr G.J. Rao, told reporters here.
There was a shortfall of 1.78 mt of cargo handled during 2011-12 due to a slump in iron ore export of 7.3 mt and coking coal import of 0.69 mt. All other cargo, however, exhibited upward surge.
Stating that the port’s performance parameters improved during the year, he said the average waiting time, turnaround time and average berthday output improved by 53 per cent, 4 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively over the corresponding figures of previous year.
Paradip port, which raised its capacity to 80 mt per annum by adding four mt through mechanisation and deepening of navigation channels among other measures, has taken up a host of projects to increase the capacity to 251 mt per annum by 2020.
New port
On future plans, Mr Rao said PPT plans to set up a new port at Bahuda Muhan near Gopalpur in a joint venture with the Odisha Government to handle thermal coal cargo and cater to power generation units in the southern region.
Describing the site identified for the purpose as ideal for port construction, he said the proposed satellite port would be a ‘green port’ with fully mechanised operations and negligible impact on environment.
Expansion works
Giving a detailed account of the expansion works, the PPT Chairman said the capital dredging works being undertaken to increase the draught of entrance channel, approach channel and berthface to facilitate the handling of 1,25,000 DWT size vessels is on the verge of completion.
The installation of two single point moorings to handle very large crude carriers is under way by the state-run Indian Oil Corporation which would add 22-mt capacity at the port, he said.