The Hindu Business Line : Box terminal: Ennore Port calls for ‘request for qualification’

Chennai, March 7 The development of a container terminal at Ennore is taking shape with Ennore Port Ltd starting the process of developing a container terminal at an estimated cost of around Rs 1,300 crore.

The terminal, which got environment clearance last year, will have a quay length of 1,000 metre and a capacity to handle around 1.50 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), according to a tender issued by EPL calling for ‘request for qualification’ from private operators to develop the terminal.

BOT basis

The terminal will be built on build, operate and transfer basis for a concession period of 30 years.

The terminal will be designed to facilitate berthing of at least 8,000 TEU capacity vessels.

The licensee of the terminal has the option to consider the terminal design to suit the future ultra large container ships.

Initially, the port will provide (-) 15 m water depths at the berths.

The terminal is proposed on the western side of the harbour basin with a continuous berthing face in the north-south orientation.

Ennore with ability for deeper depths and availability of water front, and adequate backup land is suitable for developing container terminal for handling large container vessel.

A few special economic zones, with manufacturing activity, are likely to come up in the immediate hinterland of the port.

EPL has invited developers to design, engineer, finance, construct, operate, maintain, market, provide project facilities and services of the container terminal.

World class facility

A report on Coordination of Business Plans Major Ports in India prepared by the Port of Rotterdam says that Ennore has the potential to become a world class facility on the condition that careful long term planning is taken into account.

Ennore is seen as a potential container port in the South next to the established centre Chennai. The Port of Ennore is the only corporatised Major Port in India, and it is with some envy that the other major ports look at this situation.

Ennore has more freedom (it does not fall under the Tariff Authority for Major Ports’ regulations) and operates as a landlord.

The strength of Ennore port is the availability of protected waterfront of about 3,000 metre in length and back up lands of 836 hectare for development of deep-drafted cargo terminals benchmarking high productivity standards and quality parameters.

The port is connected to the national highways NH4, NH5 and NH45 without entering into the populated Chennai city area, the report said.

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