The Hindu Business Line : Kolkata box terminal congestion proving costly to feeder operators

About a week ago, at least one feeder operator informed its consignees of the plan of one of its vessels to skip KDS and instead call at Haldia in view of the projected long pre-berthing detention.

It was felt that the vessel might be required to wait at the Sandheads for about a week before getting a berth at the KDS.

Handling Equipment

Since the availability of handling equipment at the dock too left much to be desired, it was estimated that the vessel might not be released before another five to six days.

All this would prove too costly to the operator, it was felt.

However, the plan was abandoned subsequently, presumably because the consignees were opposed to such a diversion.

The Chairman of the Kolkata Port Trust, Dr A.K. Chanda, when contacted, conceded that the congestion problem at the container terminal or KDS was serious.

While every move was being taken to ease the problem, he was not sure if it could be resolved before six to eight weeks. Container Corporation of India was being persuaded to run full container rakes between KDS and Tughlakabad as a means to evacuate the import boxes at the earliest, he said.

About some of the feeder operators’ plan to skip KDS, he said that such diversion might be possible in respect of one or two voyages.

No concrete plans

The Deputy Chairman of the Haldia Dock Complex, Mr Rajeev Dube, said he was yet to receive any concrete proposal for the diversion of KDS-bound container traffic to Haldia though he had heard that some of the feeder operators were talking on these lines.

Unless the export containers too were transported to Haldia, the feeder vessels, after discharging the import containers at Haldia, would return in ballast. This might not turn out to be a good business proposition.

Besides, the road transportation of import boxes from Haldia to Kolkata too would mean an additional cost.

Finally, the Haldia dock is already hit by congestion. Sudden increase in the number of container vessels would only add to its woes, it is felt.

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