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32.04 million tonnes of cargo handled last fiscal

MR P. TAMILVANAN, Chairman of New Mangalore Port Trust, highlighting the performance of the port at a press conference in Mangalore on Thursday. — R. Eswarraj

Mangalore April 5 Inspite of a shortfall of 2.41 million tonnes (mt) of cargo during 2006-07 over the previous year, New Mangalore port has shown improved performance in handling cargoes such as containers, fertilisers and coal.

Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, Mr P. Tamilvanan, Chairman of the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), said that the port handled 32.04 mt of cargo during 2006-07 as against 34.45 mt in the previous fiscal.

One of the main reasons for the reduction in traffic was the decline in the cargo handled by Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd (KIOCL). The company exported 0.58 mt of iron ore concentrates and pellets during 2006-07 as against 3.45 mt, recording a shortfall of 2.87 mt.

"In spite of that, we have done well in various other segments such as containers, coal and fertiliser cargoes," he said.

Container traffic

The container traffic registered a growth of 79.25 per cent over the previous year. As many as 17,290 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers with around 2.65 lakh tonnes of cargo were handled during 2006-07 as against 9,646 TEUs of containers with 1.48 lakh tonnes of cargo during the previous fiscal.

Among the container cargoes, coffee witnessed a growth of 147.35 per cent, reefer cargo 42.07 per cent, and wax candles 41.11 per cent over the previous fiscal.

Considering the growth in container traffic, the port has taken steps to procure 40-tonne capacity reach stacker at a cost of Rs 1.66 crore. The reach stacker is expected by the month-end. Work on creating additional 40,000 sq metres of paved stack yard for stacking containers is in progress, he said.

Coal, fertiliser cargo

During the last fiscal, coal cargo witnessed a growth of 103.94 per cent. The port handled 10.46 lakh tonnes (5.13 lt) of coal cargo during the period.

The port handled 2.65 lt (0.31 lt) of limestone cargo and 9.72 lt (6.62 lt) of fertiliser cargoes during the year. He attributed the growth in these cargoes to the business promotion drive taken up by the NMPT.

The railway traffic at the port has shown a growth of 98.16 per cent. Last fiscal, the port handled 30.18 lt (15.23 lt) of railway-bound cargo. Mr Tamilvanan said that 18 cruise vessels called at the port during the year.

Of the 32.04 mt of cargo handled by the port, Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) contributed a major share with 20.13 mt. The port handled 12.30 mt of import cargo and 7.83 mt of export cargo of MRPL.

Fiscal position

During 2006-07, the total revenue of NMPT crossed Rs 240 crore. Mr Tamilvanan said that the port earned a net surplus of above Rs 100 crore for the second consecutive year. He said the NMPT contributed Rs 25 crore towards the pension fund.

Asked about the future plans of the port, he said that the NMPT is planning to construct a railway line inside the port. There are plans to construct an additional four berths inside the port as well.

Mr M.A. Baskarachar, Deputy Chairman of the NMPT, was present on the occasion.

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