The Hindu Business Line : Deep-sea port: Proposals invited from global firms

New Delhi, July 25 The Shipping Ministry has invited request for proposals from international engineering consulting players such as the Louise Berger Group, Moffatt and Nichols, Royal Haskings, Sandwell Engineering, Mouchel Parkman, Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick and the UK-based CGR to conduct the techno-economic feasibility study for constructing the deep-sea port in West Bengal.

Apart from conducting the study, the consultant would also be required to do the site-selection for the port, according to official sources.

These firms, which have technically qualified for the job, would have to submit their proposals to the Ministry by mid-September.

Draft limitations

With the Kolkata port unable to handle high capacity vessels, the Government is evaluating a proposal to set up a modern deep-sea port in West Bengal with a draft not less than 16.5 metres. Due to draft limitations, the vessels calling at the port have to pay heavy load penalty.

Therefore, it is important to have a deep-sea port in the coast line of West Bengal with a maximum possible draft which should accommodate at-least capesize vessels.

Consultant’s job

The consultant has to identify a suitable location after taking into consideration various factors such as availability of draft, various marine, meteorological, hydrographic, morphological, hydrological, geotechnical, topographical and other parameters, dredging requirement and hinterland connectivity by rail and road. It also has to calculate traffic projections for 20 years after assessing the market potential, profiles of types of ships likely to call at the port depending on the types of cargoes to be handled, environmental analysis, particularly relating to hazardous cargo, pollution control measures, among others.

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