The Hindu Business Line : Vizag port sets record in cargo handling

THE Visakhapatnam port crossed a record 50 million tonnes of throughput during the financial year (2004-05), becoming the first port to do so in the country. During 2003-04, the port handled 47.74 million tonnes.

The achievement marks a new high for the port, which has been in the number one position for the past five years consecutively.

The port handled 50.15 million tonnes by March 31, with iron ore accounting for more than 16 million tonnes.

The Chairman of the port, Mr K. Ratna Kishore, expressed happiness over the achievement and thanked the workers and staff of the port.

"In handling bulk cargo, the port has always stood first. We are trying to improve the performance by deepening the outer harbour. The Japanese have come forward to extend financial assistance for the project. We will be able to handle 2 lakh dwt vessels after the completion of the project. Iron ore exports would get a further boost," he said.

The project would cost Rs 320 crore and the work on it would begin in 2006. "We are trying to finish the environment impact assessment and other preliminaries during the current year," he said.

The inner harbour was also being developed to accommodate bigger vessels.

"There is, however, one area which needs improvement. We have lost 2 lakh tonnes of transhipment cargo in spite of our best efforts. We will strive to improve our performance on that front," he said.

The port handled 45,549 TEUs during the year, with exports accounting for 3.7 lakh tonnes and imports 2.65 lakh tonnes.

He said the port was not merely taking pride in tonnage, but had excelled in all efficiency parameters. The output per berthday of 12,241 tonnes was the highest in the history of the port.

The average turnaround time of 3.20 days and pre-berthing detention of 1 hour and five minutes were also the best performance indicators.

A record number of 1,843 ships sailed from the port during the year. Two very large crude carriers were handled at the port.

In a separate statement, the Chief Executive, Visakhapatnam Container Terminal Project Ltd, Mr D. Sugantharaj, expressed happiness and said the terminal had handled 45,517 TEUs during the year against 20,730 TEUs during 2003-04.

"The average crane productivity was 23.4 moves per hour per crane, comparable to the best in the sector. There were no accidents," he said.

"With several major projects coming up in the near future in Visakhapatnam district — such as the pharma city, apparel park and the ceramic park — there is a bright future ahead of the container terminal here," he added.

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