The Hindu Business Line : Vizag box terminal records 120 pc growth in throughput

THE container throughput at Visakhapatnam port's container terminal posted 120 per cent growth at 45,517 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2004-05 against 20,730 TEUs in 2003-04.

The terminal is operated by Visakha Container Terminal Pvt Ltd (VCTPL), a joint venture between United Liner Agencies (belonging to J M Baxi Group) and Dubai Port International.

The average parcel size at 232 TEUs (195 TEUs) showed 19 per cent growth. Measured in terms of moves per hour, the productivity of cranes, berths and ships too showed improvement, according to VCTPL sources.

The composition of the throughput for the year under review indicated that the local traffic was 33,898 TEUS (imports 16,770 TEUs and exports 17,128 TEUs), the inland container depot (ICD) traffic 6,579 TEUs (imports 4,573 TEUs and exports 2,006 TEUS), trans-shipment 3,678 TEUs (imports 1,886 TEUs and exports 1,792 TEUs) and restows 1,362 TEUs. The corresponding figures for 2003-04 are not available. The traffic to and from Vizag port's hinterland that had shifted to other ports is gradually coming back to the port, as it is evident from the largest share of the local traffic in the total throughput, VCTPL sources said.

Items such as tobacco, paperboard, waste paper, minerals and steel are slowly coming back to Visakhapatnam port. VCTPL, it is pointed out, has also started handling traffic for major power and aluminium projects in Orissa and Jharkhand.

One of the reasons why Visakha container terminal attracted ICD traffic was the resurfacing of the congestion problem at Jawaharlal Nehru port, including the Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT). As on March 31, 2005, 3,896 TEUs of imports, comprising 1,772 TEUs at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal and 2,124 TEUs at NSICT, were lying uncleared.

The number of boxes bound for Tughlakabad ICD was 626 TEUs and 1,250 TEUs respectively.

Another factor, which contributed to the growth of traffic was the calling of the mainline service, INDFEX II, at the container terminal.

The service, operated by the Shipping Corporation of India in partnership with a few foreign lines, started calling at the terminal from April 2004.

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