The Hindu Business Line : `No threat to Vizag port'

The Visakhapatnam port will most likely retain its slot as the country's premier port this financial year too, despite the shortfall in iron ore exports caused by government policy changes and though the Shipping Ministry's target seems a bit steep.

In an interview to Business Line, Mr K. Ratna Kishore, the port chairman, said that two or three major ports, such as Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai, may touch, or cross, the 50-million tonne mark this financial year. "But there is no threat to Vizag's premier position among the major ports. There is no denying that throughout the year we have been facing a deficit in iron-ore exports — of two million tonnes or so, as a fallout of the policy changes. Some of the iron ore from Karnataka is going to the Kakinada port. But we are making up for it through other cargoes, though they are slow-moving ones," he said.

Mr Kishore said that there has been a considerable increase in fertiliser and wheat imports this year. The target fixed for the port (61 million tones) may be out of reach, but "we are striving to surpass last year's performance (55 million tonnes) and reach as close as possible to the target."

He said that, as on date (January 7), the port handled 41.345 million tonnes of cargo thisfinancial year, against 41.714 million tonnes in the corresponding previous period. The target for the period this year was 52.24 million tonnes. The port handled 10.39 million tonnes of iron ore and pellets against 12.17 million tonnes during the corresponding previous period.

He said the transshipment cargo (about four million tonnes) was going to Kakinada and the port was facing competition from Paradip port too. "On all parameters of operational efficiency, Visakhapatnam port is performing exceedingly well," he said.

Future projects: Referring to future projects, Mr Kishore said the berths in the inner harbour would be strengthened and dredging of the channel was being carried out to accommodate Handymax vessels. There were also plans to build three more berths to handle aluminium products and other cargoes on a BOT basis. "We have strengthened the ore handling complex and it is good for another two decades," Mr Kishore said.

He added that the Visakhapatnam port was also taking up general cargo berth mechanisation at a cost of Rs 340 crore. Mechanisation would increase the handling capacity at the outer harbour and the bigger vessels could also be handled, he said.

The port was also investing in pollution-control measures and it had so far spent Rs 9 crore on them. " We are taking all steps to reduce pollution and make the port as clean as possible," he added.

Ch. R. S Sarma