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NMPT exceeds freight target

Our Bureau

MANGALORE, April 3

THE New Mangalore Port has registered a 24 per cent growth in traffic with the throughput for the year 1999-2000 having increased by 3.40 million tonnes to 17.60 million tonnes as against 14.20 million tonnes during 1998-99.

This increased throughput is 20 per cent higher than the target fixed by the Ministry of Surface Transport for 1999-2000. As per the revised estimate for 1999-2000, the total income of the port is Rs. 182.01 crores against a total expenditure of Rs. 130. 89 crores accounting for a net surplus of Rs. 51.12 crores.

According to a statement issued by the Chairman of the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), Capt. R. Ramkumar, the percentage growth rate in throughput is the highest among the 11 major ports.

Increase in traffic is mainly due to the increased handling of iron ore, MRPL crude, LPG and timber. The LPG traffic, which accounted for five per cent of the total traffic handled during the period, was 0.82 million tonnes registering a growth rate of 1 2 per cent which, according to the statement, is the highest among the major ports of the country.

POL accounted for 48 per cent, iron ore for 37 per cent, general cargo eight per cent and other liquid cargo two per cent of the total traffic handled. The number of vessels handled during this fiscal year was 738 as against 724 handled in the previous y ear. Capacity utilisation was 99 per cent as against 85 per cent last year.

Consequent on the increase of the refining capacity of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) from three million tonnes per annum to nine million tonnes per annum, the Ministry of Surface Transport has sanctioned a Rs. 236.50-crore scheme for t he creation of additional facilities to cater to the port's increased infrastructural needs.

As a result of this and other `developmental works' to be completed over the next 30 months the crude/POL/LPG/other liquid bulk cargo handling capacity of the port is projected to increase from the existing 7.5 million tonnes to 19.5 million tonnes.

Moreover, to meet the `growing demands' of MRPL traffic during the interim period, a `virtual jetty' had been commissioned and had been operational from October 31, 1999.

The `virtual jetty', according to the NMPT, is the only one of its kind in the country with a rated capacity of 2.5 to three million tonnes and a capacity to handle product vessels up to 40,000 dwt.

The work of computerising the operations of the port (cargo handling and ship movement) which was entrusted to Wipro at a total cost of Rs. 97 lakhs is now on a trial run. The NMPT will also soon have a vessel traffic management system (VTMS) which will enhance the safety of increased maritime traffic.

In keeping with the port's attempts to keep up with the growing demands being made on it, investments were made in procuring new equipment for the port, the most recent of which is a 10-T capacity pick and carry crane and another 75-T capacity rough terr ain mobile crane has been procured from TIL Ltd of Calcutta at a total cost of Rs. 2.62 crores.

The crane is proposed to be used for handling containers and heavy lifts.

the NMPT's master plan provides for the construction of a western dock in which provision has been made for eight general cargo berths. At present, there are seven general cargo berths in the eastern dock.

The port is expected to handle a general cargo traffic of about 2.4 million tonnes by the end of the Ninth five-year Plan. Plans are afoot to provide at least on additional general cargo berth during the ninth plan period. Also, additional exclusive bert hs may be required for containers once container traffic picks up.

The port has also received approval from the Ministry of Surface Transport to replace its 28-year-old grab dredger with a new one within the next two years. In order to identify the infrastructure facilities required for handling containers and general c argo based on the projected traffic up to the year 2020, the port had appointed consultants Howe (India) Pvt Ltd for conducting a feasibility study. The report has been submitted and the port intends to implement the recommendations in due course.

The port is also in an `advanced stage' of negotiations with Nagarjuna Power Corporation Ltd (NPCL) for a captive coal jetty proposal on a BOT basis.