The Hindu Business Line : Kandla Port to deepen draught

CONSIDERING the growth in cargo volumes in the recent past, the Kandla Port Trust is planning to increase the draught to 13.5 metres from the present 11.5 m. This is also expected to attract more vessels to the port.

The increase in depth will not only give a major boost to the surging traffic but also ensure growth at a faster rate in order to place Kandla Port on par with other major ports where Handymax and Panamax vessels are being handled, Mr A. Janardhana Rao, Chairman-in-charge of the Kandla Port, told Business Line.

The port has floated a global tender for a two-year capital dredging contract of 20 million cubic metre at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore.

As many as seven companies including foreign firms have shown interest to execute the work, and the tendering process is likely to be finalised by March 31, he said.

The available draught of 11.5 m at present is the highest ever declared in the history of Kandla and it is for the first time that the port is going for a draught-based dredging instead of volume-wise dredging carried out earlier, he said.

With the available depth of 11.5 m, he pointed out that importers, exporters and vessel operators would now be able to enhance their parcel sizes on a per shipment basis on larger vessels, thereby bringing in greater economies of scale and offering lower freight rates.

A major percentage of the dry cargo being handled at Kandla consists of bulk cargo such as import of scrap, coal, fertilisers etc whereas on export front, it comprises of soya extraction, salt, lead, zinc concentrates and wheat.

With the market for export of soya extractions set to boom, he said that the immediate impact of the increased draught would be witnessed with larger vessels being fixed for the commodity.

Similarly, big vessels for import cargo could now be chartered for Kandla, thereby reducing the freight element.

Referring to the overall cargo traffic at the port, he said the port had established an all time record by handling 1.23 lakh tonnes on a single day on October 26, surpassing the previous highest level of 1.12 lakh tonnes handled on June 1999.

Seeking the co-operation of the port users for a smooth traffic operations and cargo handling, the Chairman assured that the suggestions of the trade in the open house sessions would be given due importance to further improve the performance.

All the decisions taken at the berthing meetings are being implemented by the Traffic Department including revisions of scale of rates after deliberations with port users, he said.