Kandla Port handles first Capesize vessels
India's premier port Kandla Port is also the first Major Port in India to handle Cape Size vessels of one lakh MT cargo at 16 meter Draft at Outer Anchorage of Kandla Port. This phenomenal feet could be achieved by positioning Floating Crane with 26 CBM Grab at KPT OTB, Daily Shipping Times reports.
Rishi Shipping has imported two Liber Floating cranes from Germany. Out of them, one Floating Crane started operation and second Floating crane will be in operation from September. Now Kandla Port is ready in all respects to handle Gearless Panamax and Cape Size vessels without any restriction of length of ship (LOA) and arrival Draft. Vessels of 300 mts LOA and 16 meter drafts will now be calling at Kandla. This is the big achievement of Kandla Port and adds another feather in its cap.
The first trial vessel that was discharged by this Floating crane was m.v. Indus Prosperity on 25th June.
This vessel arrived with 90133 mts Coal on 14.9 meter draft. The first parcel of 55133 mts was to discharge Kandla and full quantity discharged at outer anchorage of Kandla Port and second parcel of 35000 mts was discharged at New Mangalore port. This was the first occasion when Cape Size vessels was discharged in two major ports.
Till now Cape Size vessels are being discharged at only three private Ports namely Mundra Port, Krishnapatnam and Gangavaram Ports but now Kandla Port has also joined the league of ports that can handle gearless Cape size vessels and by discharging part cargo at Kandla, second parcel can also be discharged at any major port of the country.
Mr Vijay Chibber, Special Secretary & Financial Advisor Govt. of India, Ministry of Shipping and Dr. U.S.Awasthi, Managing Director, IFFCO will dedicate this Floating Crane to Kandla Port and the nation on 27th July, 2012. The credit of this goes to Dr. P. D. Vaghela, the dynamic Chairman of Kandla Port Trust who had dreamed to handle gearless Panamax and Cape Size vessels at Kandla Port and due to his support only this could succeed.
The volumes at Kandla will sour out of leaps and bounds with the combination of Flaoting Cranes, Barges and Barge Jetties at Tuna, Bunder Basin & IFFCO Jetty, etc.
Dr. P.D. Vaghela, is also eager to encourage Coastal movement between Kandla and captive barge jetties of cement industries. Few barges of 3000 mts dead weight registered under River Sea Act will regularly transport imported coal from Kandla to Jakhau / Koteshvar and in return with cement and clinker. These Industries are to produce 30 million tonnes of clinker and cement annually and evacuation will be challenging for the trade and KPT. The positioning of cranes Kandla OT at permanently will complement and encourage coastal movement of coal by making Kandla as a Coal Hub.
Shri Mansukhani of Rishi Shipping said bigger the vessel, lesser the freight and freight of vessel also depends on turn around of vessel. Hence, under the leadership of Dr. P. D. Vaghela, Supermax vessels of 50000 mts are being discharged on berthing for only 24 hrs or 48 hrs.
Kandla Port completely succeeded in faster turn around of vessels and by using floating crane now handle bigger vessels which substantially reduces the freight, saving foreign exchange to the country.