Paradip Port To Develop An Outer Harbor To Handle Large Capsize Vessel

19 December, Paradeep (Odisha)

Paradip Port has contemplated to develop an outer harbor to handle vessels up to 22 meters draft for large capsize vessels up to 2,50,000 DWT.

Paradip Port sources said the IIT Madras has recommended to develop the Southern side layout for the purpose. Mckinsey-AECOM are carrying out Techno-economic Feasibility Study, which is expected to be completed by January 3.

The Port sources said the step was one of the several projects undertaken during the year to enhance its capacity to 175.50 MMTPA by 2018. The draft has been enhanced from 12.00 12.50 mtrs. to 14.00 -14.50 mtrs. in 6 berths and dredging of North Oil Jetty to increase the draft to 16 mtrs., is substantially completed..

The port made a number of achievements in comparison to last year. During 2015-16 (Up to December 18), the Port achieved cargo through out of 52.60 MMT, as against 49.56 MMT handled during corresponding period of previous year exhibiting a growth of 6.13 per year-on-year.The traffic handled by the Port during the financial year is second highest among all major ports in the country.

The port managed to reduce the total logistic cost of the cargo imported / exported . Even though the number of vessels handled in the Port has been increased along with quantity of cargo handled, the berth occupancy has been reduced from 76.46 per cent to 68.21per cent .

While around 20 vessels were waiting in the anchorage for berth last year, the number of such waiting vessels have been drastically come down to 2 – 3 vessels this year, which has a direct impact on demurrage charges thereby savings in precious foreign exchange to the nation.BM.