The Hindu Business Line : Draft at Diamond Harbour improves

FOR the first time in past five years, the draft of the Hooghly river at Diamond Harbour has improved to 9.25 metres as compared to 8.5 metres till recently, according to a press release issued by Kolkata Port Trust.

The improvement in draft at Diamond Harbour has helped Kolkata Dock System to handle larger vessels and higher parcel loads. "Corali", a Singapore-based ship, carrying 10,500 cbm of Malaysian logs, is currently unloading the consignment at Diamond Harbour.

This has been possible due to intensive dredging and river training measures being adopted by the port authorities, the press release adds.

Meanwhile, the port authorities have set a target of 46 million tonnes (m.t.) of traffic for 2004-05.

In 2003-04, the total throughput was 41.052 m.t. against 35.804 m.t. in 2002-03, posting a growth of 5.248 m.t., highest absolute of growth in traffic among all major ports.