The Hindu Business Line : Mormugao Port — Gearing up to meet the challenges

SITUATED at the mouth of Zuari River in Goa, Mormugao Port, a protected open type natural harbour, has been the nerve centre of trade and industries in Goa as well in neighbouring States. Its inception goes back to the Portuguese era to the Treaty of Lisbon in 1878 between the British and the Portuguese Governments.

One of the major ports in the country, Mormugao is located on the West Coast at 130 nautical miles from the international sea route linking Persian Gulf with the Far East. Its record performance during the previous financial is nothing but an indicator of MPT's preparedness to face the present and future challenges. It was declared a major port in 1963 after Goa was liberated from the Portuguese in 1961.

Thespectacular growth witnessed by MPT after it became a major port includes a dedicated mineral oil berth, an ore loading berth with a modern mechanical ore handling plant (MOHP), two multi-purpose general cargo berths, re-commissioning of an existing MOHP, leasing out of two obsolescent berths to a private company — Western India Shipyard Ltd — for installing a modern ship repairing facility, licence to South West Port Ltd to construct and operate two berths on build, operate, own and transfer

(BOOT) basis, another MOHP to be completed next month and the like.

The cargo handled at Mormugao Port is broadly categorised as POL and other liquid cargo, iron ore, coke/coal, other general cargo and containers. The traffic pattern shows that iron ore has been and continues to be the single most important commodity comprising around 79-80 per cent of the total traffic handled by the port. Of the total traffic of 30.66 million tonnes (m.t.) handled in 2004-05, iron ore alone constituted about 81 per cent.

The in-charge Chairman of MPT, Mr P.M. Mahapatra, told Business Line that the port handled a record cargo of 30.66 m.t. as against the installed capacity of 29 m.t. in 2004-05. It was seven per cent higher than the target of 28.78 m.t. fixed by the Ministry and 10 per cent higher than the previous year's traffic of 27.87 m.t. Iron ore (24.72 m.t.) accounted for the major share (81 per cent) besides coal, petroleum products and other cargoes.

The total number of vessels handled during the year was 693 as against 677 in the previous year and of them 365 were iron ore carriers. Cargo handling improved on all parameters, he said, adding that the berth-day output went up from 16,746 tonnes to 17,084 tonnes and the average pre-berthing waiting time came down to 1.05 days from 1.11 days.

MPT's total income was Rs 223.2 crore and the expenditure was Rs 191.25 crore, while it was Rs 215.16 crore and Rs 187.8 crore respectively during the previous year.

The expenditure in 2004-05 included Rs 25 crore towards the proposed contribution to the Pension and Gratuity Trust Funds. The books of account are likely to be closed with an operating surplus of Rs 76.7 crore while it was Rs 72.96 crore during the previous year.

While the average pre-berthing time was reduced to 2.37 days from 2.6 days, there was considerable reduction in on-port account, average turnaround time, non-working time at berth and the like.

Mr Mahapatra said the port's plans include installation of wagon handling system for iron ore, modernisation of the existing MOHP, deepening of approach channel and berth No. 9 to 15.1 metres, modification to berth No. 8 for iron ore shipment, two additional transhippers for iron ore exports, modification to general cargo berth No. 10 to handle iron ore, construction of cruise vessel-cum-container berth and construction of two additional berths at Vasco Bay.

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