SPOTLIGHT: INDIA
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MA INTAINING MOMENTUM Indian ports are aiming to boost their ability to handle cargo as importers and exporters expect an increase in traffic in the next year
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enior officials at ports such as Chennai, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and Cochin are reported to be looking to improve cargo handling capacity to take advantage of a surge in port activity. Kolkata Port chairman Vinit Kumar was among those who have said they are speeding up projects to increase capacity and modernise infrastructure in order to take advantage of a surge in import and export demand over the coming months. Kolkata port has said that as a means of boosting throughput, it plans to start night navigation between Sagar and Kolkata, which would save time navigating the stretch of water between the two as well as increase cargo handling at the port. JNPT is one of the other ports making modernisation plans, which increase railway capacity at the port in order to move goods more quickly. Port plans afoot include a multipurpose cargo terminal on the Uran mudflats, terminals in Nhava Creek, the second phase of the additional liquid bulk terminal and setting up a fifth container terminal at Panvel Creek. All of these will be developed using the public private partnership model.
In Tamil Nadu, Chennai Port is working with the National Highways Authority of India to speed up the construction of an 8km bridge between Chennai Port and Manali Road-Thiruvottiyur Junction, an official from the port authority says. On the west coast, Mundra Port, run by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), is also preparing to increase cargo handling capacity in this fiscal year. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), the largest transport utility in India, announced its results for the fourth quarter and year ended 31 March 2022, in May. “FY22 has been a stellar year for APSEZ, with the achievement of various milestones for itself and new benchmarks for India’s maritime industry” says Karan Adani, chief executive officer of APSEZ. The company recorded cargo volume of 312m tonnes, with Mundra port alone handling 150m tonnes. APSEZ has obtained environment and coastal regulation zone clearances to raise the capacity at Mundra Port to 385m tonnes from 300m and is looking to complete two projects to extend its eastern and western breakwater by 500 metres each during the year, an
official from APSEZ said recently. It is also looking to expand the railway capacity at the port to improve traffic movement. The recent disruption at Sri Lanka’s Colombo Port is expected to help Indian ports report increased volumes in 2022-23 after the Indian shipping industry suffered due to the covidinduced supply chain disruption over the past two years.
Russian debate
The Indian Register of Shipping recently issued a statement relating to media reports linking it with Russian shipping concerns in the light of the Ukrainian situation. In a statement, the classification society said: “Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) notes media reports linking it with Russian shipping entities. Our primary function as a classification society is to ensure the highest level of safety on board every vessel that is classed with us. We shall never neglect that responsibility. “In relation to the recent media reports, IRS can report it has been asked to provide safety-related classification and survey services to a number of vessels by Dubai-based entities. These vessels are registered by leading flag
BULK TERMINALS
international | SUMMER 2022
