Khalifa Port expands capacity, welcomes new cranes

Source: Khalifa Port

Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) and Abu Dhabi Terminals (ADT) the container terminal operator, have announced the arrival of three of the world’s largest and most modern ship-to-shore (STS) quay cranes at Khalifa Port.

According to a media statement, the Super Post Panamax quay cranes, which were delivered during the second week of January, were produced by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co. Ltd. in China with a cost of 28 million USD, and travelled overseas on especially built ships to Khalifa Port’s container terminal, the first semi-automated container terminal in the region.

One STS crane is 126.5 meters high and weighs 1,932 tons. It has an outreach of 65 meters (22 containers) and a lifting capacity of 90 tons.

The three new quay cranes will join the six already operational cranes at Khalifa Port’s current 2.5 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) capacity container terminal, making it a total of nine STS cranes.

In addition, six cutting edge automated stacking cranes (ASC) have recently joined the former 30 ASCs at Khalifa Port, and a further six are expected to arrive in coming months, both batches representing an overall investment of 42 million USD.

Commenting on the recent deliveries, Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO, ADPC, said, “After more than 100,000 TEUs passed through Khalifa Port last year in October, which was the highest number of containers ever handled in a single month in Abu Dhabi, the start of the new year has already been promising and signaled a significant increase in the Emirate’s import and export activities over the next twelve months. By investing in our state-of-the-art infrastructure we are further establishing Khalifa Port as one of the best equipped and most technologically advanced ports in the world.”

Elaborating further, Mr Martijn Van de Linde, CEO, Abu Dhabi Terminals (ADT), said, “The new STS cranes will further increase Khalifa Port’s capacity adding 750,000 TEUs of throughput capacity to the terminal. We have continued to register double digit growth in 2013 and the new capacity is required to keep pace with the rapidly growing Abu Dhabi and UAE markets.”

The industry leading STS cranes at Khalifa Port are specifically used for unloading container vessels which have become notably bigger over the past years. Vessels with a container volume of up to 14,000 TEUs are currently calling at Khalifa Port whose nine STS cranes will be able to handle up to 315 containers per hour (35 containers per crane, per hour).

Khalifa Port’s cutting edge ASCs, which were delivered by Finnish production company Konecranes, are operated through an especially designed operating system and used to organize the containers in the dedicated container yard. Two ASCs cover one area (stack) in which up to 2,000 TEUs can be stacked. With the six newly delivered and six expected ASCs, the overall stacking capacity at Khalifa Port’s container yard will increase by 40%.

Ennore Port-Ford pact for car export

Source:http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/ennore-port-ford-pact-for-car-export/

Ennore Port Ltd (EPL) on Jan. 21 signed an agreement with the US-based car maker Ford for export of its cars through the port.

Ennore Port Chairman-cum-Managing Director M. A. Bhaskarachar exchanged the documents signed by the representatives of both EPL and Ford with Ford India Executive Director (Manufacturing) Tom Chackalackal in the presence of Union Shipping Minister G. K. Vasan and Chennai Port Trust Chairman Atulya Misra.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vasan said: “In total, up to December 2013, about 4, 49, 720 automobile units had been exported from Ennore Port since September 2010, inclusive of the automobiles of manufacturers like Nissan, Ford and Ashok Leyland from Chennai, Toyota from Bangalore and Honda from New Delhi.”

He added: “Today, we are witnessing the signing of an agreement between Ennore Port Limited and Ford India Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader, which manufactures and distributes automobiles and engines made at its modern integrated manufacturing facilities at Maraimalai Nagar, near Chennai, for export of their products that customers want and value. The agreement envisages a tie up for export of cars by Ford and providing facilities by EPL for a period of 10 years. It provides for various volume-based discounts on wharfage by EPL ranging from 5% to 30% to encourage more exports from EPL.”

Sharing some of the projects that are in the pipeline in the port, Mr. Vasan stated: “Ennore Port is going to sign an agreement with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) for setting up of LNG import storage and re-gasification terminal at an estimated investment of Rs. 4, 500 crores. The capacity of the LNG terminal is 5 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum. IOCL has planned to commission the project by 2016-17.”

“The port has also commenced pre-project activities for the construction of the third coal berth to handle additional 9 million tonnes of coal needed for TANGEDCO. The estimated cost of the new coal berth of 9 MTPA will be Rs. 150 crores. The existing coal berths dedicated to TNEB have a capacity of 16 to 18 MTPA,” the Union Minister added.

New container terminal: 
Ennore Port, which is developing a new container terminal at an investment of Rs. 1, 270 crores, is awaiting approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. Speaking to reporters, Ennore Port Ltd CMD Bhaskarachar said: “We are waiting for the CCEA approval. The RFP (Request for Proposal) is out. Right now, L & T and Adani have shown interest (to develop the container terminal).”

Piracy at sea at its lowest level

Source: http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/piracy-at-sea-at-its-lowest-level/

The International Maritime Bureau has issued its latest figure on piracy at sea and it says that there have been 264 attacks, recorded world-wide. It is almost a 40% drop in piracy since it reached its peak in 2011.

“The single biggest reason for the drop in worldwide piracy is the decrease in Somali piracy off the coast of East Africa,” said IMB Director Captain Pottengal Mukundan.
He attributed the fall in piracy to various factors like the efforts of the international navies, deployment of private armed security guards, and also the stabilizing influence of Somalia’s central government. He also cautioned against any complacency: “It is imperative to continue combined international efforts to tackle Somali piracy. Any complacency at this stage could re-kindle pirate activity.”

IMB piracy report pointed out that more than 300 people were taken hostage at sea last year and from among them, 21 were injured almost all with guns and knives.

A total of 12 vessels were hijacked, 202 were boarded, 22 were fired upon and a further 28 reported attempted attacks. Nigerian pirates were particularly violent, killing one crew-member, and kidnapping 36 people to hold onshore for ransom.

Indonesia accounted for more than 50% of piracy attacks last year while piracy off West Africa made up 19% of attacks worldwide last year.

Nigerian pirates moved even into waters of Gabon, Ivory Coast and Togo where they were responsible for at least five of the seven reported vessel hijackings. They were also “particularly violent” killing one crew member and kidnapping 36 people to hold on shore for ransom, according to the IMB.

Malaysian waters witnessed the hijacking of two product tankers with 27 crew members taken hostage and in addition to the theft of ships’ property and cargo.

Caution is the parent of safety. And, security is the other of the twin.

TN Govt taking over Kasimedu Fishing Harbour, Allocates Rs. 75 crs. for face-lift

Source: http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/allocates-rs-75-crs-for-face-lift/

Giving enough indication that the Tamil Nadu Government is “taking over” the management of Kasimedu Fishing Harbour, located adjacent to Chennai Port, from the port management very soon, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Jan. 15 gave administrative sanction for upgrading the fishing harbour at a cost of Rs. 75 crores.
According to a Media statement, construction of a 300-metre new wharf at the north breakwater, a 200-metre boat yard to park the fibre reinforced plastic boats, extending the existing boat yard by 140 metres in the northern end, setting up of two new wharfs (each 200-metre long), net repairing centre, deepening the harbour, sanitary complex and other basic amenities would be undertaken using the funds allocated by the State Government.
Through these developmental measures at the fishing harbour, nearly 12, 000 fishermen would be benefited directly while another 15, 000 fishermen and workers would be benefited indirectly, the statement further said.
The 24-hectare fishing harbour constructed by Chennai Port Trust at Kasimedu, located north of Chennai Port, was commissioned in 1983. Since then the harbour is home for more than 1000 fishing crafts including the big sized mechanized trawlers and small fibre boats.
The harbour is managed by Fishing Harbour Management Committee (FHMC) comprising representatives from different stakeholders including Chennai Port Trust, Police Department, Fisheries Department, Chennai Corporation and fishermen unions. However, Chennai Port plays the lead role and manages all the day-to-day activities of the harbour.

Resentment:

Since the hundreds of fishermen, who were using the harbour facilities for years, had blamed the Chennai Port management of being lethargic in renovating the facility that was badly damaged in the 2004 killer Tsunami, a proposal for handing over the management of the fishing harbour began about 18 months ago.
Speaking to Sagar Sandesh, Mr. K. Bharathi, president of the South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association (SIFWA), said: “Several fishermen associations, who were unable to pressurize the Chennai Port management for immediate renovation (of the damaged wharf) despite repeated announcements of fund allocations since 2005, approached the Tamil Nadu Government authorities for a final solution.”
“After two rounds of discussion with the stakeholders in the last 18 months, we came to know that the Chennai Port management agreed in principle to hand over the management of the fishing harbour to Tamil Nadu Government and the process has reached its final stages,” he added.
It may be worth noted here that barring the Kasimedu Fishing Harbour, management of all other fishing harbours in the State are in the hands of Tamil Nadu Government.
“The announcement of spending this huge sum for the upgradation of fishing harbour is indirectly sending the message to the whole fishing community depending on Kasimedu Fishing Harbour that Tamil Nadu Government is finally taking over the facility very soon,” Mr Bharathi further claimed.

More Arctic port calls in northern Norway

Source: http://barentsobserver.com/en/business/2014/01/more-arctic-port-calls-northern-norway-15-01

The Port of Narvik is the second biggest in the Barents Region. (Photo: Narvikhavn.no)

While Russian Arctic sea ports lose ground, ports in neighboring Norway are increasingly putting on weight.
By Atle Staalesen
January 15, 2014

For decades, Murmansk was the by far biggest port hub in the Arctic, serving a powerful fishery industry and the major mining and metallurgy enterprises of the Kola Peninsula. Today, the ports of Murmansk remain key Arctic infrastructure objects of major strategic importance to the regional economy. However, they are increasingly challenged by ports in neighboring Norway.

Data obtained by BarentsObserver show that northern Norwegian ports in 2012 handled a total of 41,4 million tons, while Russian Arctic ports the same year had a turnover of 36,6 million. The Norwegian side includes ports in the three northernmost counties of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark, while the Russian side includes ports in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Oblast, as well as the Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

For the first time, it is now the region of Nordland, which is the biggest in the Barents Region in terms of port goods turnover. While ports in Nordland in 2012 handled a total of 31,7 million tons, the ports in Murmansk Oblast handled only 28,2 million tons. Furthermore, the trends in the two regions are quite the opposite. While the Murmansk ports in 2009 handled 40,7 million tons, the Nordland ports the same year handled 25,5 million tons, a change of respectively 31 percent (negative) and 24 percent (positive) compared with results from 2012.

The Murmansk Commercial Sea Port remains the biggest single port in the Barents Region. But the Norwegian port of Narvik is catching up. In 2012, the Murmansk port handled 23,8 million tons, while Narvik handled 19,4 millions. The major growth in Narvik over the last five years (35%) comes as iron ore shipments by railway from the Swedish mining company LKAB beat the records. In Murmansk, the negative figures must be seen partly on the backdrop of stagnating regional industry, partly in connection with a decrease in oil transshipments.

Beyond the Murmansk Commercial Sea Port, the biggest ports in the Murmansk region are the Murmansk Fish Port, the Kandalaksha Port and the Vitino Port.
Also Arkhangelsk is experiencing a decline in shipping. Data from the Russian State Statistical Service show that the regional ports in 2012 handled a total of 8,38 million tons, a decline from 11,27 million tons in 2010.
The growth trend is on the Norwegian side of the border, and not only in the county of Nordland. In Finnmark, the northernmost Norwegian region, the ports in 2012 handled a total of 8,1 million tons, an increase of  25 percent from 2009 and of more than 500 percent since 2002.
The biggest port growth in Finnmark takes place in Hammerfest and Kirkenes, two ports handling major amounts of oil products and ore respectively. 
The oil industry will over the next years be a driving force in regional port development. Several offshore projects are in the pipeline and the need for well-functioning ports for base operations are increasing. In the Norwegian town of Kirkenes, investors are in the process of developing a new oil terminal and service base. In neighboring Murmansk, leading Russian oil company Rosneft is engaging in the development of the Murmansk Transport Hub, an infrastructure project which aims at reviving the role of Murmansk in Arctic shipping.
The Norwegian side might however have a set of comparative advantages. Commenting on developments, Kirkenes Port Director Eivind Gade Lundlie in an interview with BarentsObserver highlighted the positive role of the local airport, well-developed hotel capacities, as well as competent local companies “hungry for new projects”. He added that the oil and gas companies tend to prefer Kirkenes to the neighboring Russian ports because of its low level of bureaucracy and its efficient logistics and customs services. In addition, the Norwegian side does not require visa for Schengen citizens or western oilmen. 

Former ground handler owns planes, choppers that fly Rahul Gandhi

Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-former-ground-handler-owns-planes-choppers-that-fly-rahul-gandhi-1947017

Wednesday, Jan 8, 2014, 

Rahul Gandhi is not the frequent flier you will see boarding a commercial aircraft. And god save the air traffic controller who discloses his flight plans to anybody. Instructions have been given to the ATC to keep a lid on the Congress vice-president’s jet-setting ways.

That’s one part of the story. The other is that Rahul flies only by chartered aircraft owned by a gentleman who answers to the name Semoun Jolly. For the Congress, it’s said, Semoun is the jolly good fella who keeps the Gandhi scion airborne when it’s needed and ensures safe landings for the man who the Congress hopes will become prime minister one day.

Who is Semoun Jolly? That’s the million-dollar question. They say till the turn of the century, Semoun was an unknown, working with a ground handling firm at Delhi airport. Then, one fine day, he becomes the owner of

Air Charter Services with a fleet of aircraft that ferry the rich from one point to another, for a fee. They say Rahul boards only Semoun-owned aircraft, his favourite a BE350.

Jolly was working with M/s Saraya Aviation owned by Punjab revenue minister BS Majithia for Rs 3,000 a month. His former colleagues say that Jolly was very good in managing records and at administration. Sources said when Jolly branched out on his own, top Congress leaders pumped big money into his charter service company called quite aptly Air Charter Services.

“Jolly is a pawn, he is the face of the company, but everyone in the aviation industry knows who all are the behind-the-scene operators. Key Congressmen have pumped lots of unaccounted money into Air Charter Services,” said an industry insider.

“We do not discuss client-related queries and client-procurement model with the media,” Jolly told dna.

According to Jolly’s former colleagues, people in the industry are  jealous of his steep growth in the aviation industry. “A few years ago, Jolly used to stay in a two-room house in Delhi’s lower-middle class Tilak Nagar colony. But now, he owns a big house in a posh South Delhi colony. His enormous growth has also brought with it several enemies,” a source said.

Jolly was born and brought up in a Punjabi family in Delhi. Sources said no only Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka and her kids also fly in Jolly’s air charter firm.

Sources said Rahul Gandhi usually always travels by private chartered aircraft. There are many private airlines which offer such services. But Rahul prefers Air Charter Services. As of now, Air Charter Services has seven aircraft, including a BE350.

It’s said that because of the Congress links, Air Charter Services does not keep official records of Rahul’s trips. Entries for Rahul Gandhi in the airport authority logbook are always made in the names of unknown people. Sources said the air traffic control gets a wireless communication from the SPG that Rahul Gandhi would be flying and that the flight should not be delayed. Give the aircraft topmost priority goes the order.

“As Rahul Gandhi cannot enjoy the official status of a VVIP, airport staff do not make any entry in the logbook,” said a source. Officially, only the president, vice-president, prime minister and heads of foreign states have that privilege. In spite of this, Rahul Gandhi gets special treatment.

Air traffic controllers have been told this in no uncertain terms. Citing security reasons, airport authorities keep Rahul’s travel plans secret.

According to the source, Rahul Gandhi makes frequent visits to his parliamentary constituency Rae Bareli. He also gets special treatment at the national pilot training academy. Ajay Tripathi, Rae Bareli district president of the BJP, said the Congress vice-president’s chartered aircraft regularly lands at the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) airstrip. “Being a member of the governing council of IGRUA, Rahul Gandhi receives VVIP treatment and all rules are violated to facilitate his flights.”

Tripathi alleged that IGRUA has entered into a contract with a Canadian firm — Canadian Aviation Electronics — to turn the institute into a world-class institution. “IGRUA is shelling out $350,000 annually to the Canadian firm, but the institute is still in poor condition. Though a government institute, IGRUA is run like a private limited company of the Congress,” Tripathi said.

Early this month, Rahul Gandhi’s aircraft had a narrow escape at Delhi airport, when the business jet of the Air Charter Services he was on board was about to land. In 2010, an Air Charter Service air ambulance crashed in Faridabad, killing 10 people.

According to the ministry of corporate affairs, Air Charter Service Private Ltd was incorporated in September 2000 with an authorised share capital of Rs5 lakh. Delhi-based Semoun Jolly has been director of the company since its inception. There are two other directors — Kamlesh Jolly and Maninder Singh Sethi - as per the registrar of companies.

When contacted, Semoun Jolly refused to answer dna’s queries on his business operations. The company website boasts of a fleet which includes Pilatus PC12, King Air350, King Air B200, and Cessna Citation Excel. It also has air ambulances and a fleet of Augusta Westland choppers.

Between October 2011 and August 2012, the company created mortgages totalling about Rs30 lakh, as per the registrar of companies. It raised Rs9.5 lakh from Canara Bank in October 2011, Rs10 lakh from the same bank in January 2012 and Rs11 lakh from Yes Bank in August 2012.

The company has not disclosed the list of its shareholders in the annual returns filed for 2011-12 and 2012-13. As per the shareholding pattern, according to annual returns for 2010-11, Semoun Jolly holds 18,56,400 shares of Rs10 each. Other shareholders in the company include Kamlesh Jolly, Semoun Jolly HUF, Maninder Singh and Ashok Jolly HUF, CPCT Media Private Ltd. SSJ Metals Equipment Private Ltd also hold stake in the company as per the annual returns of 2010-11.

Number of shares held in 2010-11
Semoun Jolly : 1856400
Kamlesh Jolly: 2056400
Semoun Jolly HUF : 400000
Maninder Singh : 4491976
Ashok Jolly HUF : 179176
CPCT Media Private Ltd: 508024
SSJ Metals Equipments Private Ltd: 508024

TN coastline safer now than earlier: CG Commander

Source:http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/tn-coastline-safer-now-than-earlier/

Post-Mumbai attacks, we have augmented force level along the coastline and we are safer than earlier, Inspector General S. P. Sharma, Commander, Coast Guard Region (East), has said.

Interacting with reporters after announcing various awareness programmes being organised in connection with Indian Coast Guard’s Raising Day (Feb. 1) celebrations here on Jan. 6, he added: “Earlier, we used to have just 23 ships to cover the entire East Coast area of jurisdiction falling under CG Eastern Region. However, after bifurcation, our jurisdictional area has been reduced to coastline of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Pudhucherry.”

IG Sharma stated: “Though it was 23 ships for the entire area then, now I have 30 ships only to look after Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Pudhucherry coastline. In other words, it is augmentation of force level in the region. The numbers of ships have increased gradually; old ships have been decommissioned in a phased manner. With the change, new energy and enthusiasm have come in.”

Elaborating further about the increased level of security to mediamen, he pointed out: “Besides, we have established a chain of radars along the entire coastline which has almost become functional. This is the value addition which has been done by creating satellite connectivity for any line failure. Today we have 11 radars along the coast of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh giving us 24 X 7 real-time coverage.”

It may be noted here that the movement of US floating armoury MV Seaman Guard Ohio inside Indian territorial waters was picked up by one of such radars.

“Now we have enough equipment and technology to detect movement of vessels through these radars,” IG Sharma observed.

According to sources, in the second phase of expansion, Tamil Nadu coastlines are likely to get five radars and once they are installed and synchronized with the Regional Operating Centre (ROC), it would give real-time data for decision making in coastal security.

Better connectivity to ports is vital for growth: Vasan

Source:http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/better-connectivity-to-ports-is-vital-for-growth-vasan/

Stressing that better connectivity (of roads and rail) to ports is of paramount importance to enhance productivity and efficiency, Union Minister of Shipping G. K. Vasan has said that it should be given due importance in all ports of the country.

Addressing a gathering after flagging off the new Railway Siding facility to provide a seamless traffic flow on both directions, at Ennore Port on Jan. 6, he stated: “Connectivity to ports is to be given adequate attention not only in Ennore Port but also in all other ports of the country.”

Mr. Vasan added: “The Railway Siding infrastructure set up at a cost of Rs. 51.60 crores would enable the coal and iron ore stack yards at Ennore Port to be connected with the southern and northern mainlines of Indian Railways and therefore provide a major boost for Ennore Port as well as BOT (Build, Operate, Transfer) operators.”

“The new railway siding facility will minimise the time consumed for shunting, leading to more rake movements and faster evacuation of cargo,” he noted.

Elaborating about the strong emergence of Ennore Port over the years, which was primarily conceived as a satellite port, the Minister observed: “As part of perspective expansion plan, Ennore Port during the 12th Plan period (2012-17), is going to add substantial capacity through projects like 5 MTPA LNG Terminal, 16 MTPA Container Terminal, 2 MTPA Multi-cargo Terminal-2 and 9 MTPA Additional Coal Berth No.3 for TANGEDCO.”

“With the development of these terminals Ennore Port capacity will be more than double from the present 30 MTPA to about 67 MTPA by the end of 12th Plan,” he declared.

“For substantial improvement in its connectivity to evacuate the anticipated increase in cargo, rail connectivity projects like new broad gauge rail link between Attipattu and Thiruvallur / Avadi using the rail corridor identified in the Outer Ring Road (ORR) project of the State Government and a proposed Northern Rail Link taking off from the northern side of Minjur Station to enter into Ennore Port, etc., are being explored,” Mr. Vasan further added.

Earlier, Mr. M. A. Bhaskarachar, CMD, EPL, welcomed the gathering and briefed about Ennore Port and its developmental programmes planned for the future. He pointed out that on Dec. 25 last year the five rail lines of Holding Yard – II were successfully linked with the NCTPS main line which connects the Indian Railway mainlines. This linkage will be a major boost for the port as the time consumed for shunting will be minimised and hence more rakes movements can be operationalised.

Mr. Bhaskarachar also explained that, with the commissioning of this full track civil works, about 1, 500 rakes per annum will be moved only for coal evacuation from the next financial year onwards.

In his address Mr. P. K. Mishra, Divisional Railway Manager, Southern Railway, said: “We feel happy to be associated with Major Ports like Chennai and Ennore in the region.” While congratulating the EPL management for maximum utilisation of railway mode to evacuate its cargo, he appealed to the Chennai Port Trust management to explore ways and means to increase cargo evacuation via rail rakes, which is abysmally low now.

“Besides, we look forward to meet the demand of rakes for containers and RORO from Ennore Port in future,” Mr. Mishra added.

Besides representatives from different port users and members of Ennore Port Advisory Board, Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Director (Operations), EPL; Mr. Ashok Vardhan Shetty, Vice Chancellor, Indian Maritime University; Mr. Atulya Misra, Chairman, Chennai Port Trust and Mr. P. C. Parida, Deputy Chairman, Chennai Port Trust, attended the ceremony.

EMRIP inauguration by February-end

The Rs. 600-crore Chennai-Ennore Port connectivity road, formerly Ennore-Manali Road Improvement Project (EMRIP), is likely to be inaugurated by February-end, according to Union Minister of Shipping G. K. Vasan.

The project, conceived more than a decade ago, is aimed at decongesting the road from Inner Ring Road-Madhavaram up to the Chennai Port Trust of container trailers as well as heavy load vehicle traffic.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the railway siding facility at Ennore Port, the Minister said the inauguration, which had been earlier announced as by January, would now take place by February-end.

“Till date, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had completed nearly 80 per cent of the widening work and while coming here (Ennore) I also inspected a few stretches of the road to see for myself the real progress.”

Krishnapatnam Port creates best crane productivity record

Source:http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/krishnapatnam-port-creates-best-crane-productivity-record/

Krishnapatnam Port Container Terminal (KPCT), a world-class container terminal operated by Krishnapatnam Port, has set a new benchmark in operational efficiency.

On Dec. 24, 2013 during MSC’s weekly service to Colombo from KPCT, its vessel MV MSC SIERRRA-II became part of a historic moment when 641 TEUs were exchanged with the vessel, with a record hourly crane productivity of 48.6 containers and a berth productivity of 96.64 containers per hour.
According to port sources, two super post-panamax quay cranes were used by the terminal to achieve its most efficient crane productivity record on that day.
“This has been Krishnapatnam Port’s best crane performance at KPCT and probably one of the highest achieved by any container terminal in India,” a statement from the port authority revealed.
Main liners such as Maersk, MSC and three feeder services – BTL, Xpress Feeder and Far Shipping – regularly call at KPCT because of faster turnaround time with average berthing time for the vessels being 90 minutes and trailer turnaround time being 50 minutes from entry to exit of the port unlike other ports in the country.
The efficiency in container handling in Krishnapatnam is evident from the volumes that are increasing month-on-month at the terminal. In FY 2012-13, KPCT handled 13, 547 TEU where as from April to December 2013 (three quarters of FY 2013 -14), KPCT has handled 42, 553 TEU.
With sustained growth on the container handling front, the port is looking at exponential growth in the future.
Vast area, state-of-the-art equipment, deepest draft in the county, efficient and transparent operations and unparallel road and rail connectivity are transforming KPCT into the container terminal of future on the East Coast of India.
The facility is well connected by a 24-km double-line rail (with an on-dock rail adjacent to container yard) and 4-lane roads to the national grid, making for swift access and evacuation of containers and cargo.
Support infrastructure like covered warehouse facility to an extent of 200, 000 sq. ft is available towards stuffing and de-stuffing of containers at KPCT. Separate fumigation zone has been developed inside the terminal. Special facilities towards handling of hazardous and non-hazardous cargo also have been provided inside KPCT.
In addition to these facilities, the terminal has a dedicated Customs facility with functional EDI (Electronic Data Interface) to process all the documents to enable faster clearance of consignments.
The current cargo profile of KPCT includes barites, cement, chilly, coffee, cotton, equipment and related spares, feldspar, food products, granite, human hair, maize, mango pulp, mica, potash feldspar, packaging materials, polypropylene granules, pulses, PVC products, quartz, rice, sheet material, shredded scrap, sugar, tobacco, turmeric and waste paper.

Besides main line operators, the terminal has also received good support from NVOCCs.
With strategic tie-up with MLOs and feeders, freight forwarders, CHAs (customs house agents), LSPs (logistic service providers), CTOs (container train operators) and ICDs (inland container depots), KPCT is proving to be the preferred container handling destination by the world trade on the East Coast of India, say regional EXIM players.

IMU gets new V-C

Source:http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/imu-gets-new-v-c/

Mr. K. Ashok Vardhan Shetty, a retired Indian Administrative Service Officer from Tamil Nadu cadre, assumed charge as the new Vice Chancellor of Indian Maritime University (IMU) on Jan. 2.

According to a top Shipping Ministry official, Mr. Shetty’s appointment has been approved by the President of India, the Visitor of the Ministry of Shipping-run Maritime University, for a period of five years.

His appointment culminates the lengthy process which began in August 2013 to find a new Vice Chancellor to the institution after the then V-C, Prof. Raghuram, a well-known academician from the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad, abruptly resigned over differences with the Union Shipping Ministry in March 2013.

Capt. Mukesh Baveja, Head of Indian National Database of Seafarers (INDoS) Cell, Mumbai, and Director (in-charge) of Kandla Port Campus, succeeded Prof. Raghuram to the top post.

Before taking voluntary retirement from service in 2011, Mr. Shetty worked in various capacities in Tamil Nadu Government and had held a good reputation among his colleagues.

However, the retired Indian Administrative Service Officer has a big task on his hand to bring back the lost glory of IMU.