The Hindu Business Line : 5 cos in fray for repair facility at Chennai port

FIVE companies have shown interest in developing a ship repair facility (floating dry dock) inside Chennai port on build, own and transfer (BOT) basis, according to Mr K. Suresh, Chairman, Chennai Port Trust (ChPT).

About Rs 100 crore is likely to be invested in the facility, which is part of the National Maritime Development Programme envisaged for Indian ports over the next ten years.

The interested companies are ABG Shipyard (Mumbai), Rarefield Engineers Pvt Ltd (Chennai), SKS Ship Ltd (Mumbai), Krasny Marine Services Pvt Ltd (Mumbai) and GEA Energy Systems India Ltd (Chennai).

The port trust has issued tender, inviting companies for qualification to develop the facility, he said.

It has restrained Chokhani International Ltd or any of its associates from participating in the tender.

The company earlier operated a floating dry dock inside the port, but had wound up after a few years.

The new facility would help the port offer ship repair services. In 2002, the port trust had modernised the inner harbour by reinforcing the wharves, dredged the Dr Ambedkar Dock to a uniform draught of 12 metres, and invested in improving road connectivity to the port, says the tender.

The 15-year perspective plan on ship repair facilities in India, prepared by the Union Ministry of Shipping, suggested creation of certain facilities in Chennai port.

In 1990, one dry dock for vessels weighing up to 60,000 DWT (dead weight tonne), one for 8,000 DWT and a floating facility for 60,000 DWT along with a full-fledged workshop was established inside the port through private participation. These are not available at present.

For fiscal 2004-05, the port has recorded 43.81 million tonne traffic and 1,762 ship calls, an increase of 113.60 per cent and 18.57 per cent respectively.

Further, with the rapid development of Ennore port, the upcoming Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project, plans to make Chennai a hub for container handling, and the development of a second container terminal, any ship repair facility at the port is expected to handle 22 ships, says the tender.

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