The Hindu Business Line : Kolkata to reserve 2 berths at Haldia for coal, limestone

If the minimum guaranteed throughput is failed, the port authorities will encash the bank guarantee for an amount equivalent to the cargo related charges to the extent of shortfall.

Our Bureau

Kolkata, Nov. 16

The steel producing units, particularly those in eastern region, stand to benefit from the Kolkata Port Trust’s decision to reserve two berths at Haldia dock, number two and eight, for handling coking coal, limestone and coke.

A proposal in this regard was approved recently at a meeting of the board of trustees of the port.

Berth reservation

The steel producing units using the berths, according to Mr Rajeev Dube, Deputy Chairman of Haldia Dock Complex, will be entitled to certain benefits and facilities subject to certain conditions. First, the providers of the minimum guaranteed throughput themselves (not through any trade or agent) have to handle coking coal, limestone and coke in these two berths; next, they have to guarantee a minimum throughput of 1.5 million tonnes annually each berth and finally, they must furnish a bank guarantee for an amount equivalent to the cargo related charges, as applicable from time to time, of the guaranteed throughput.

Benefits

The benefits, as Mr Dube points out, will include, among others, according ousting priority to vessels carrying coking coal, limestone and coke on account of the firm guaranteeing minimum throughput and making available to it suitable storage space with railway siding facilities inside the dock area on licence basis as per the rules laid down by the port authorities.

Also, the cargo handled in other berths (except the two BOT berths such as 4A and 12), due to factors such as bunching of vessels, non-availability of berth numbers two and eight for whatever reasons, over which the importer has no control, will be taken into account for the calculation of the minimum guaranteed throughput.

The prospective beneficiaries of the scheme have to furnish a few other details such as the location of the steel plant, the capacity, the projected expansion of capacity, the volumes of traffic to be handled at the dock and the mode of evacuation of cargoes.

If the provider of the minimum guaranteed throughput, Mr Dube makes it clear, fails in his commitment on throughput, the port authorities will encash the bank guarantee for an amount equivalent to the cargo related charges to the extent of shortfall. Also, the present policy will be reviewed after one year, he adds.

Normal operation

Meanwhile, the normal operation at Haldia dock resumed today, after having remained suspended for nearly 24 hours. The forecast of cyclonic storm forced the dock authorities to order suspension of shipping movement totally. Also, cargo handling operation too did not take place from the second shift yesterday. “Everything is normal now”, says Mr Dube.