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P. Manoj

New Delhi , Aug. 2

WITHOUT calling for cancelling the Letter of Intent (LoI) issued to Maersk-Concor consortium for developing and operating a new container terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port, the trade and industry patronising the port have urged the Government to protect their interests given the presumed `monopoly' enjoyed by the joint venture partners in their respective fields.

"We are not demanding cancellation of the LoI issued to Maersk-Concor consortium as it would sent a negative signal to the investment community. We want the Government to incorporate two conditions in the Concession Agreement for the new terminal so that it functions as a common user facility and not as a captive terminal of Maersk besides regulating the requirement of rakes for all the three terminals at JN Port," Mr Mark S. Fernandes, Chairman, Logistics Management & Infrastructure (Transport) Committee, attached to the Indian Merchants' Chamber said during a chat with the media here.

The Government should ensurethat the proposed facility should handle not more than 15 per cent of Maersk's in-house traffic, Mr Fernandes stated.

Maersk contributes about 60 per cent share of the 2.2 million box traffic handled by JN Port terminal and NSICT. Since this volume would shift entirely to the new terminal when it starts operations, the windows available at the new facility would only be filled in by vessels belonging to Maersk. "I will be forced to bring all my cargo from abroad on Maersk's vessels. I can't bring a new shipping line simply because there won't be any windows/berths. This would negate the spirit of equitable business competition and fair treatment of all users of the terminal," he said.

Moreover, Concor, being the monopoly rail hauler of containers in the country, should accord priority in rake allocation/movement first to JN Port terminal, followed by Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT) and then to the third terminal being developed by Mersk-Concor, in that order.

However, Concor has maintained that it will continue to service all the three terminals at JN Port without unduly favouring the new terminal where it will hold a 26 per cent stake at the expense of the other two terminals.

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