Chennai box terminal operations returning to normal

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

30 Nov 2007

Operations at Chennai Container Terminal (CCT), which were hit in the last two days by high swells caused by the cyclone SIDR that hit the East Coast, are returning to normal. The high swells necessitated un-berthing of three container vessels on Friday from the terminal as cargo operations could not be carried out on board the vessels. Several attempts to re-berth three vessels were made on Friday, but were unsuccessful. The heavy swell in the outer harbour damaged the 'fenders lining' of the berth, according to a CCT press release. Nine container vessels are waiting at the outer anchorage with 6,300 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) of import containers and 5,300 TEUs of export containers to be loaded on board. According to the terminal's Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ennarasu Karunesan, three vessels were berthed on Wednesday, and operations at the terminal would return to normal in a week with no waiting for container vessels. Efforts are also on to clear import containers, which have accumulated at the terminal due to the Deepavali holidays and other 'external' factors.  Permission has been accorded by the Customs to simplify the documentation process for movement of containers to the off-dock container freight stations. CCT along with other stakeholders, including steamer agencies and CFSs, are using the simplified formats to enable quicker evacuation of containers. The yard inventory now is 3,800 TEUs of import and 5,400 TEUs of export containers, the release said.