The Hindu Business Line : Chennai makes it to top 100 container ports list

Chennai was ranked 99th in 2005 by World Port Development's International Journal for Port Management, an annual report on global ports published by the UK-based MCI Media Ltd.

The Jawaharlal Nehru port was ranked 33rd — down from 32nd in 2004.

At the 100th position was the Cabello port in Venezuela, according to the report.

Chennai Container Terminal, which is part of the Dubai-based DP World, operates the private container terminal at Chennai.

CCT took over the terminal in November 2001 and has so far invested around Rs 500 crore in the facility.

"It was a big surprise for us. This will be a major boost to Chennai to become a major container hub port on the east coast," said the Chennai Port Trust Chairman, Mr K. Suresh.

In 2005, container traffic through Chennai Container Terminal increased to 7.34 lakh TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), an increase of 19.18 per cent over 2004.

A second private container terminal to be run by a consortium of PSA Singapore and Sical Logistics is coming up at the port at a cost of Rs 492 crore. The consortium that operates the Tuticorin Container Terminal will develop the new terminal on build, operate and transfer model.

It would take two years to fully develop the greenfield project, but the company would be able to handle containers in a year's time.

Once the second terminal comes up, the port can handle an additional 1 lakh TEUs in the first year and 6 lakh TEUs within five years of operation.

China dominates

Singapore overtook Hong Kong as the world's top container port with a handling of 232 lakh TEUs (213 lakh TEUs).

However, China dominated the list not only taking the next three slots but also having 12 of its ports in the list.

Hong Kong was second with a handling of 226.02 lakh TEUs (219 lakh TEUs). Shanghai was third with a handling of 180 lakh TEUs (145 lakh TEUs) and Shenzhen was fourth with a handling of 161 lakh TEUs (136 lakh TEUs). Other Chinese ports in the list include Dalian, Xiamen and Lianyungan, according to the report.

Highest growth

The Romanian port of Constanza recorded the highest growth in container handling with a 103.5 per cent increase to 7.68 lakh TEUs (3.86 lakh TEUs). The Chinese port of Lianyungang was next with a 101.5 per cent increase to 10.07 lakh TEUs (5 lakh TEUs). Port Said port of Egypt recorded a 72.5 per cent increase to 15.20 lakh TEUs (8.81 lakh TEUs), the report said.