KoPT handles cape size vessel with over 1.5 lakh tonne coal

The Kolkata Port Trust is handling a cape size dry bulk cargo vessel with 1,64,928 tonne of coal as its transloading stabilises, KoPT officials said on Monday.

The vessel, MV Samjohn Solidarity, carrying the coal on account of Adani Enterprises Ltd, anchored at the sandheads on October 17 and is expected to complete the discharge of 1 lakh tonne of coal by October 27.

The vessel, after discharging the coal onto barges by two floating cranes, will proceed to the Paradip Port for the remaining cargo.

KoPT Chairman Vinit Kumar said due to draft and lock restriction, it could not take bigger vessels in the docks.

"The normal parcel size is 30,000 tonne, while cape size vessel can bring 1,00,000 tonne of coal cargo in one go, which reduces trade cost for large tonnage in one vessel," Kumar said.