Kolkata port may partner SAIL, SCI in transloading

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

30 Jun 2010

Kolkata Port Trust would like to join hands with Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) in their bid to undertake transloading operation in the Bay of Bengal.

“I already had discussion with the Chairman and Managing Director of SCI in this regard and I would shortly write to the Shipping Ministry seeking approval,” Mr M.L. Meena, Chairman of KoPT, told Business Line here on Monday.
“The mode of participation could be worked out through discussion”. It might be noted that SAIL and SCI have already floated a joint venture company, SAIL-SCI Pvt Ltd, to undertake transloading in the Bay.
When contacted, Mr S. Hajara, CMD of SCI, admitted that he had preliminary level talks with the Chairman of KoPT.
“KoPT, in its own interest, is keen not only to promote transloading in the Bay of Bengal but also to participate in it,” Mr Hajara said.
“The participation of KoPT in the joint venture therefore cannot be ruled out but the form of participation is yet to be decided”.
The cargo inducement for the proposed transloading operation, it is felt, is huge.
SAIL alone would start with a throughput of one million tonnes (mt), to be increased to six mt gradually.
Also, there are others such as Tata Steel, NTPC , who too would be sincerely interested in such operation.
Earlier, while addressing members of the CII, Eastern Region , here on Monday, Mr Meena indicated that several initiatives were on the anvil to step up the performance of the port. While poor navigability of the Hooghly river was a problem defying easy solutions, the opportunities had to be explored to create cargo handling facilities at various points along the river and closer to the sea, he said.
Thus port authorities were mulling if mid-stream container handling could be undertaken.
As he pointed out, nearly 40 per cent of container throughput in Hong Kong was by way of mid-stream operation.
The thrust would also been given to promote IWT (inland water transport ) traffic and barge movement of bulk commodities particularly coal would encouraged. KoPT, he said, was exploring ways and means for disposal of the dredged spoil particularly on the char land which got submerged in high tide surfaced during the low tide. A few such locations had also been identified.
Discussion with Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority had been initiated as to how to develop the river front with participation of other stakeholders, he added.

Source: The Hindu Business Line