Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Bracing up to become a world class port

Santosh Patnaik

INDUSTRYDOSSIER With management set to pay thrust to connectivity problems and augment new facilities, the port plans to have status of an international port by handling 80 million tonnes plus cargo

VISAKHAPATNAM: Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT), which achieved the twin distinction of handling 50.15 million tonnes (mt) cargo and retaining the top slot among major ports for the fifth time in a row during last fiscal, is gearing up to become an international port.

Despite its highly impressive track record, VPT has remained handicapped due to two factors, which prevent it from becoming a world class port. As part of its integrated vision plan to meet long-term requirements, the port management has put into operation an ambitious project to invite Panamax vessels (mega bulk carriers) in the inner harbour and Capesize vessels up to 2,00,000 deadweight tonnage (dwt) in the outer harbour.

Cargo handling

It is projected that the port will be handling 81 mt throughput by 2014 as against this year's target of 55 mt. As technology plays a crucial role in winning the confidence of the customers in a highly-competitive atmosphere in coming years, the port management wants to pay thrust to connectivity issues to provide seamless transportation of goods to and from the secondary and territory service area.

The two-phase deepening and widening of the entrance channel in the inner harbour to facilitate navigation of Panamax vessels with an investment of over Rs.30 crores is on the cards. This will facilitate dredging of the channel up to 3.2 lakh cubic metres.

Dredging work

To prevent diversion of very large crude carriers (VLCC) by oil majors like Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited to neighbouring Kakinada, the port is also taking steps to improve facilities in its general cargo berth (GCB). It has been envisaged to expedite work on mechanisation of coal handling in the general cargo berth on a top priority basis.

The Dredging Corporation of India is said to have been asked to take up dredging work in the inner harbour and complete it by May 2006. The draft may go up to 12 to 14 metres in the next two to three years with plans to take up more area for capital dredging.

Addressing connectivity problems and augmenting and creation of new facilities by involving private parties in tune with the new maritime policy will fetch the port the status of an international port by handling 80 mt plus cargo.

The competition posed by ports at Kakinada and Paradip and the plans to develop a satellite port at Gangavaram on the city outskirts have not dampened the spirit of the country's premier port.

The export of 90 per cent of Nalco's products and the projected increase in import of coking coal by NTPC-Simhadri Super Thermal Power Station from 6 mt to 9 mt have come as morale-boosting factors.

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