Date:18/10/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/10/18/stories/2005101801670700.htm

Back Paradip port still reeling under cyclonic aftermath

Our Bureau

The port is yet to fully recover from the effects of dislocation of operation in the last one month. As a result, almost every ship that is bound for the port has to wait for four to five days on an average for getting a berth.

Kolkata , Oct. 17

PARADIP port has been hit by congestion problems for over a month now. Several cyclonic storms lashed the port in September, throwing its operations out of gear.

The port is yet to fully recover from the effects of dislocation of operations in the last one month. As a result, almost every ship that is bound for the port has to wait four-five days on an average for getting a berth. This level of pre-berthing detention has been continuing for the last several weeks, said port sources.

Of the 14 berths at the port, mechanised berths ( including two coal berths, two fertiliser berths and one each for iron ore and oil), are not so affected by congestion, though one fertiliser berth is believed to be undergoing some pre-berthing detention. The problem is particularly acute in respect of non-mechanised general cargo berths and there are eight such berths in the port. Items such as chrome ore, chrome concentrate, imported coking and steam coal, and various other items are handled in these berths.

The obvious fallout of the present problem is that there has been a drop in throughput particularly in September. Rains affected ship movement, and loading and unloading of cargo and, as a cumulative effect of all this, the rail and road movement of traffic in and out of the port.

No wonder that the port did not experience any significant growth in traffic throughput. In the first six months, the growth at a little more than 10 per cent was less than the all-India average of more than 11 per cent during the period. The neighbouring Kolkata port posted the highest growth of 20 per cent.

The port authorities are believed to have written to the Shipping Ministry explaining the position.

They expressed hope that barring unforeseen developments, the situation should be normal by the month-end or early next month.

Meanwhile, Mr K. Raguramiah, a 1980 batch officer of the Indian Railway Traffic Service, has been appointed Chairman of Paradip port.

He is employed in South Central Railway in Hyderabad. Mr Subrat Tripathy, Deputy Chairman of the port, who has been acting as chairman for the past two and half years, is also from the Indian Railway Traffic Service.