Chennai Port handles 47.25 mn tonne cargo

Chennai Port handled 47.25 million tonnes of cargo for 2005-06, surpassing the previous year's figure of 43.80 million tonnes. However, the figure marginally misses the shipping ministry's target of 49 million tonnnes.

Addressing a press conference, K Suresh, chairman, Chennai Port Trust, said that the port was hoping to cross the mark of 50 million tonnes in 2005-06, but the unprecedented cyclonic and torrential rain that hit Tamil Nadu, especially Chennai, hampered the operational works to a large extent.

The Chennai Port is ranked third among all major ports of the country and it has posted an all time high for two consecutive years. This is the highest throughput in the history of the port, he added.

In the container traffic segment, the port, through the private operator, Chennai Container Terminal Ltd (CCTL), handled 7.34 lakh TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) or 11.76 million tonnes during the period, a growth of 19.18 per cent over last year's 6.16 lakh TEUs.

Of the total cargo throughput of 47.25 million tonnes for 2005-06, exports accounted for 20.05 million tonnes as compared to 19.18 million tonnes in 2004-05, and imports accounted for 27.20 million tonnes compared to 24.62 million tonnes.

However, there was a decrease in the handling of iron ore. It came down to 9.46 million tonnes for 2005-06 from 9.60 million tonnes in the previous year.

The provisional operating income for 2005-06 is Rs 430.16 crore, compared to Rs 403.64 crore in 2004-05. However, it is expected to touch Rs 450 crore when the accounts for 2005-06 are finalised. Cargo handling and storage accounted for 52 per cent of its revenue, followed by port and dock charges (24 per cent).

The provisional operating surplus for 2005-06 is about Rs 124.69 crore against Rs 117.17 crore in 2004-05. The net surplus is likely to be Rs 140.64 crore against Rs 115.95 crore.

Suresh said Chennai Port was able to maintain the pre-berthing detention time between a vessel arrival at Chennai, anchorage and berthing - of 0.9 hrs on an average for three consecutive years. The port has now berths waiting for ships rather than the ships waiting for the berths, he added.

The average turnaround time (time between vessel berthing and departure) has been reduced to 2.4 days in 2005-06, compared to 2.4 days in the previous year.