JNPT (India) to build fourth container terminal
India's leading container port, the Jawaharalal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), will be adding one more container terminal to its existing three container terminals.
The port is already in the process of developing the Rs 5,000 crore ($1.2 billion) container terminal, described as a small, but fully fledged container facility.
More than 40 players have expressed their interest in the new facility, a 330 metres extension to an existing 1,280 metres container berth operated by JNPT and Dubai Ports World (DP World).
Likely to be operational by 2008, the new berth would be able to handle about 600,000 TEUs annually. Around 27 hectares would be reclaimed for container stacking and the development of other facilities.
JNPT handled 2.67 million twenty-feet equivalent units (TEUs) of container traffic during 2005-06, surpassing the previous annual container traffic of 2.37 million TEU.
Sources said the board of JNPT have also sent a proposal for construction a finger-pier of about 50 metres in connection with the new facility to the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) for approval.
"Following the approval of MoS, the JNPT board will invite global tenders for developing this container berth as exclusive and dedicated box facility. All international and Indian operators are likely to participate in bidding process of this terminal," sources added.
The port can shorten its turnaround time with this container berth, besides accommodating larger size container vessels and permitting optimum usage of the water front area and reduce difficulties in container stacking.
The proposed container facility is likely to draw more users including international port operators such as DP World, Maersk, PSA and Indian port operators.
Industry analysts predicted that DP World will be the most aggressive bidder for this terminal as the new berth will coming just as an extension to its existing berth.
"If Dubai Ports manage to bag this terminal, they can operate with more space that could lead to accommodating bigger and more vessels," an analyst said.
The port is already in the process of developing the Rs 5,000 crore ($1.2 billion) container terminal, described as a small, but fully fledged container facility.
More than 40 players have expressed their interest in the new facility, a 330 metres extension to an existing 1,280 metres container berth operated by JNPT and Dubai Ports World (DP World).
Likely to be operational by 2008, the new berth would be able to handle about 600,000 TEUs annually. Around 27 hectares would be reclaimed for container stacking and the development of other facilities.
JNPT handled 2.67 million twenty-feet equivalent units (TEUs) of container traffic during 2005-06, surpassing the previous annual container traffic of 2.37 million TEU.
Sources said the board of JNPT have also sent a proposal for construction a finger-pier of about 50 metres in connection with the new facility to the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) for approval.
"Following the approval of MoS, the JNPT board will invite global tenders for developing this container berth as exclusive and dedicated box facility. All international and Indian operators are likely to participate in bidding process of this terminal," sources added.
The port can shorten its turnaround time with this container berth, besides accommodating larger size container vessels and permitting optimum usage of the water front area and reduce difficulties in container stacking.
The proposed container facility is likely to draw more users including international port operators such as DP World, Maersk, PSA and Indian port operators.
Industry analysts predicted that DP World will be the most aggressive bidder for this terminal as the new berth will coming just as an extension to its existing berth.
"If Dubai Ports manage to bag this terminal, they can operate with more space that could lead to accommodating bigger and more vessels," an analyst said.