MARG Karaikal Port's Cargo Volumes Grow by over 26% in FY12

MARG Karaikal Port, a subsidiary of Chennai headquartered MARG Limited, one amongst India's fastest growing infrastructure companies, posted impressive growth in the volume of cargo handled during FY2012, making the port one of the fastest growing in the country. The total cargo handled at the port rose to 6.01 million tonnes, notching up a sharp growth of over 26.5% more than the volume of 4.75 million tonnes handled during the previous financial year.

One of the major factors in the growth was the increased volume of clean cargo such as fertilizer whose volumes nearly doubled in comparison with the previous financial year. March 2012 was a record setting month with the port handling around 850,000 tonnes of cargo, the highest ever in a single month. Also the port has handled large scale exports of raw sugar for the first time during the year and the port also saw an increase in the exports of processed sugar to various overseas destinations.

Commenting on the MARG Karaikal Port's performance in FY 2011-12, GRK Reddy, Chairman & Managing Director, MARG Group said, “MARG Karaikal Port is fast emerging as one of the finest ports in the South East Coast of India and its performance in FY 2012 is very encouraging. Despite the rising inflation, tight liquidity, high interest rates, industrial slowdown and a challenging business environment, MARG Karaikal Port posted an impressive performance and it has consolidated its position as the new Maritime Gateway to Central Tamil Nadu. Capacity to handle large vessels and diverse cargo, single window clearance, E2E logistics, state-of-the-art equipment, competitive tariffs and an ideal location are hallmarks of MARG Karaikal Port."

The port’s cargo handling capacity and capabilities increased significantly during the past 12 months as 2 new deep draft berths were commissioned, taking the total number of berths available at the port to 5 at present. The port also commissioned dedicated infrastructure to handle containers and liquid cargo and expanded the existing facilities catering to dry bulk cargo.

FY 2011-12 witnessed the launch of container handling services at Karaikal Port when a feeder service linking the port with Colombo and other Indian ports was flagged off. The container services at the port received a further boost in March 2012 with the start of weekly scheduled train services by CONCOR that link Karaikal Port with the CONCOR ICD at Tondiarpet, Chennai.

During the year, MARG Karaikal Port received its first liquid cargo vessel when the first tanker vessel carrying crude oil for Chennai Petroleum Corp. (CPCL) refinery at Nagapattinam called at the port during the last quarter of the financial year. This also marked the beginning of long term arrangement between CPCL and Karaikal Port to handle crude oil imports for the former’s refinery on an exclusive basis.

In keeping with the Government of India’s vision of promoting the use of coastal shipping for movement of cargo within the country, MARG Karaikal Port supported the shipping of cargo such as cement, construction materials and containers between Karaikal and various domestic destinations.

MLN Acharyulu, Executive Director- Marine Infrastructure, MARG Ltd., further added “MARG Karaikal Port’s strong growth trends in cargo volumes translated into all-round benefits for the local region as well, as the success of the port has spurred the development of better quality road and rail links across the region, improving the connectivity options for local people and industries. Going forward, MARG Karaikal Port is confident of setting even higher standards of performance with the expected commissioning of mechanized dry bulk cargo handling facilities during the coming year, which is likely to increase the annual cargo handling capacity exponentially.”

MARG Karaikal Port has transformed the field of marine architecture by Master Planning, Engineering, Design, on and off shore construction, project management and value engineering. It is committed to continuously invest in high quality infrastructure to meet the future maritime trade needs of the region.

Higher discharge rates, no pre-berthing delays, faster turnaround times and savings in the integrated logistics costs vis-à-vis competing ports, has helped in attracting almost all major customers in the Central Tamil Nadu / Puducherry region.

MARG Karaikal Port, a premier, hi-tech, all weather port on the South East coast of India is notably the only all weather, deep water, multi-commodity port between Chennai port and Tuticorin port and is strategically located at the middle of this 680 km coastline.

Located on the East Coast of India, MARG Karaikal Port is the new gateway to the state of Tamil Nadu in Southern India. Its combination of strategic location, state-of-the-art equipment and world-class infrastructure makes it the port of choice for industries and businesses located in and around Central Tamil Nadu and beyond.