Mechanised iron ore handling for M'lore port

In its effort to grab a sizeable portion of the growing iron ore exports from the country, the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) is planning to install mechanised iron ore loading system.

The port has already floated global tenders for the Rs 130 crore project and is awaiting security clearance from the Ministry of Surface Transport (MoST).

According to NMPT officials, the cost of the project is likely to go up to Rs 150-160 crore as there has been a considerable delay in implementing the project. The bids are, however, valid till December-end 2007.

The project is being implemented on a build own and transfer (BOT) basis for a period of 30 years. It is expected to be complete in 18-24 months from the date of awarding the contract.

"We floated the tenders last year and five companies have submitted their technical bids. Once the ministry clears their names, we will open the bids and finalise the bidder," port officials told Business Standard.

At present, there are 737 labourers at the NMPT who normally take two days to load a ship with 30,000 DWT (dead weight tonnage). Once the mechanised cargo handling system is in place, the port will be able to service bigger ships up to the size of 100,000 lakh DWT.

The new system involves erection of a conveyor belt from the marshalling yard to the back of iron ore berth. Iron ore will come into the port by the railway line and iron ore will be loaded on to the conveyor belt by tipping the wagons.

The conveyor belt will run up to the ship for a smooth and faster loading, the officials said.

The port has already installed a 104-tonne capacity mobile harbour crane to enable the faster loading of iron ore.

In 2006-07, India exported 92 million tonnes of iron ore, of which Karnataka accounted for 30 million tonnes. While the NMPT handled 10 million tonnes, the other two ports, Bellikeri and Karwar, handled 5 million tonnes.

Of all the exports, over 70 per cent is iron ore fines and a majority of them is generated from the Western parts of the country (Karnataka and Goa).

The completion of the Hassan-Mangalore broad gauge railway line is likely to give further impetus to the movement of iron ore cargo to New Mangalore Port.