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Once the dredging is complete, the Visakhapatnam port authorities will be able to bring Panamax bulk carriers into the inner harbour.

Kolkata , Aug. 2

CAPITAL dredging to deepen the inner harbour of the Visakhapatnam port is to start soon.

The port authorities have awarded the contract to the public sector Dredging Corporation of India, which is believed to have sub-contracted the job to Hyderabad-based Dharti Engineering.

The volume of job, estimated at 3.2 lakh cubic metres, is to be completed before May next year. The value is estimated at Rs 30 crore.

Once the dredging is complete, hopefully by April 2006, the Visakhapatnam port authorities will be able to bring Panamax bulk carriers into the inner harbour. This will be possible because the draft within the inner harbour and in the turning basin will rise from around 10 metres to 11 metres by May 2006 and subsequently to 12.5 metres by 2007 and ultimately to 14 metres by 2008. There are proposals for more dredging in the same place.

Currently, the Panamax vessels cannot come into the inner harbour. There are draft restrictions and also curbs on the length (LOA) of the vessel. The vessels, therefore, are required to unload their consignments at the port's outer harbour offering 14 metres draught. This causes bunching of vessels.

Once the inner harbour offers higher draft, Panamax vessels, after partial unloading of the consignment in the outer harbour, will be able to sail into the inner harbour to completely discharge the balance load. This is expected to bring down the detention of vessels waiting for berths in the outer harbour.

Also, ships with larger LOA, up to 230 metres , will be able come into the harbour. At present, the LOA restriction is 195 metres.

Unlike many other ports, the Visakhapatnam port is not required to undertake extensive maintenance dredging.

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