Shipping
...nor any drop to drink!
THE CALCUTTA Municipal Corporation (CMC) is planning to scrap its water barge on the ground of uneconomic operation. By operating the barge, engaged in supplying water to ships berthed in the Calcutta dock system, CMC, it is reported, incurs a loss of ab
out Rs 50 lakh annually, the earning and expenditure being Rs 1 crore and Rs 1.5 crore annually respectively. CMC, the authorities say, could not afford to suffer such a huge loss indefinitely.
Korean interest
A senior official in the Korean Embassy in New Delhi recently visited the Cochin shipyard, ostensibly to familiarise himself with the activities of the shipyard and the facilities available there.
Chennai port's record
The Chennai port has accomplished a record output of cargo in a single day. On December 21, the port handled the highest ever throughput of 2.10 lakh tonnes of cargo, beating the previous record of 2.01 lakh tonnes set in June 1999.
Alang Shipbreaking Yard: On the mend
THE nodal agency for port development in the State, the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), has framed a new set of regulations in its bid to change the image of the Alang Shipbreaking Yard as the `most dangerous business destination' in the country. Talking t
o Business Line, Mr P. N. Roy Choudhury, vice-chairman and chief executive officer of GMB, said the regulations came into effect from September 1, 2000 and has already had a significant impact on the manner in which business is being carried at Alang wit
h the ship-breakers moving fast from a path of confrontation to that of compliance.
Perspective plan
THE Gujarat Maritime Board vice-chairman, Mr P. N. Roy Choudhury told Business Line that the 10 greenfield ports being put up in the state would try and cater to the cargo demand on berthing space that was swelling by the day in the ports on the western
coast.
Kochi, port of call for protesters
OF LATE, Kochi port has been the venue for a series of protests by various parties, both regional and national. It started in October, when Janata Dal activists, led by the former Prime Ministers, Messrs V. P. Singh and H. D. Deve Gowda, staged a protest
in the port area against the import of agro-products and edible oils.
Making Hamburg Europe's preferred port
THE Port of Hamburg, the gateway to a market of some 400 million consumers and $1 billion worth of export trade, is being expanded ``to keep pace with the exponential growth in trade predicted for the next decade''.
A good year ahead
AT THE turn of the year, the booming freight market brings more cheer to shipowners. If predictions are anything to go by, it will be another `champagne year' for tanker owners. Tanker tonnage is unlikely to grow in the near future while its demand is ex
pected to be firm, in view of the current buoyancy in freight rates, say analysts.
Transport
Overflowing trains
This year the winter rush on passenger trains in two railway divisions -- Eastern and Southern Railways -- has exceeded that of even the Puja rush, according to sources close to these Railways.
North-eastern trade ties
The Governor of Assam, Lt Gen (Retd) S. K. Sinha, stressed the need for opening up international borders in the north-eastern region to encourage trade and transportation with the neighbouring countries.
Numaligarh refinery -- New way to transfer output
THE evacuation of output from Assam's Numaligarh refinery, now producing at an average of 60 per cent of its capacity of 3-mtpa, has been smooth so far, according to Mr A. K. Sarma, General Manager, NRL.
