Tuticorin port shortlists 5 companies

Container terminal at the port

The Tuticorin Port Trust has shortlisted five companies in the request for qualification (RFQ) stage for developing a container terminal at an estimated cost of Rs 312 crore. The container terminal would be constructed by redeveloping the eighth cargo berth on a 30-year build, operate, transfer (BOT) basis.

Speaking to Business Standard, GJ Rao, chairman, Tuticorin Port Trust, said of the 10 applicants, five were pre-qualified including PSA Sical Terminals Ltd (a joint venture of Singapore-based PSA International and Sical Logistics), Afcons Infrastructure with United Liner Agencies, Larsen & Toubro and Ocean Transport, UK, and Chettinad Logistics.

Companies that have been dropped out include APM Terminals, Hutchison Port Holdings and Gammon India.

The proposal would now be placed before the Public Private Partnership Approval Committee, under the finance ministry, before going to the request for price (RFP) stage.

Rao said the work order was expected to be handed over by early February 2009 to the qualified bidder. The terminal should commence operations in 21 months from the day of issuing work order.

Initially, the new terminal will have a berth with a 10.7m draft, which can handle vessels with a capacity of 2,000-2,500 TEUs. The draft will be increased to 12.8 m in a phased manner, which will allow vessels with a capacity of 5,000 to 6,000 TEUs to call at the port.

The port currently has just one container terminal, which is being operated by PSA Sical.

The container traffic at the terminal touched an all-time high of 400,000 TEUs last year, which accounted for over 7 per cent of India’s total container traffic. It is estimated that the container traffic would reach 470,000 TEUs this year. Both the terminals would handle around 1 million TEUs by 2010, added Rao.

The port might also consider developing another container terminal by converting Berth No 9 if the traffic grows at the current rate of 12 per cent. However, this would be only after five years.