New Haldia channel to have short-term impact

Although the Shipping Ministry’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) late on Wednesday threw a life-line to the limping Haldia Dock Complex by consenting to open a new navigational channel, the decision would have little impact on the functioning of the port in the short-term.

The TAC has agreed to start work on an alternative passage, known as the Eden Channel, to bypass the almost clogged Auckland channel.

The opening of this channel will entail the removal of underwater impediments, setting-up of radar-based guidance systems and the proper placement of buoys, a senior port official said.

“Even if the matter is taken up on a war-footing, the channel will not become operational before six months. The existing route will be have to be used till then,” the official added. Haldia Dock Bachao Committee coordinator Ramakant Burman, too, attested this.

“The action for removal of impediment will start in October 2010 after formal approval of the Board of Trustees of Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) is obtained and will continue up to March 2011.

The channel will become operational from October 2011,” Burman said.

A Majumdar, Deputy Chairman of the KoPT, which manages the Haldia Dock Complex, said that there was a possibility of a new channel being opened but detailed discussions were pending.

Now, KDS hit by technical snag
The Kolkata Dock Systems (KDS) has been hit by a technical snag delaying the shipment of container units out of the port.

“Break-down of equipment has caused the piling up of about 5,500 containers as compared to the 3,500 units that are usually housed.

Cargo is stranded as it can't be delivered and the waiting time for vessels has almost doubled,” a shipping union official said. KoPT Deputy Chairman, A Majumdar, said that there had been a temporary breakdown due to a high influx of vessels but the situation would be resolved shortly.