Chennai port throughput up 7 per cent

Chennai port cargo throughput from April 2007 to March 2008 has increased to 57.15 million tonnes, surpassing the shipping ministry's target of 55.86 million tonne. This is an increase of seven per cent from the previous year's achievement of 53.41 million tonne.

Imports increased by eight per cent to 32.84 million tonne from 30.47 million tonne, while exports increased to 24.31 million tonne from 22.94 million tonne earlier. Container traffic rose 27 per cent to 11,28,108 TEUs (twenty equivalent unit) from 8,85,422 TEUs.

Speaking to reporters, K Suresh, chairman, Chennai Port Trust, said the number of ships handled in 2007-08 has decreased by 1.88 per cent to 2,761 ships from 2,814 ships; since vessels sizes and capacity have increased, the number of vessels handled by the port has come down. He added that berth occupancy rates increased to 67 per cent from 64.20 per cent last year.

Provisional operating income increased 27 per cent to Rs 674.91 crore in 2007-08 from Rs 534.97 crore in 2006-07. Provisional operating expenditure increased to Rs 381.83 crore in 2007-08 against the actual expenditure of Rs 348.08 crore in 2006-07.

Net surplus was Rs 381.10 crore in FY '08; and after provisioning of Rs 123.55 crore towards income tax, net surplus after tax was around Rs 257.55 crore against the actual of Rs 196.98 crore during the previous year, Suresh said.

On future projects, Suresh said that the second container terminal in Chennai port which was awarded to the PSA"�SICAL consortium would be operational by April 2009. The terminal will handle one million TEUs per annum. Suresh added that the mega container terminal would come up at Chennai port in the next five years. Total cost of the project will be Rs 3,105 crore.

The new mega terminal will be able to handle ultra large container ships of over 15,000 TEU capacities. When all three terminals are operational by 2015, Chennai port alone will handle 10 million TEUs per year, he added.

Other projects include modernisation of the port on an investment of Rs 200 crore, which will include realigning the rail and road network at a cost of Rs 40 crore, and setting up a mechanised conveyor system at a cost of around Rs 43 crore.

A new ro-ro car terminal is to be set up on an investment of Rs 45 crore. The port trust also plans to invest around Rs 143 crore to deepen the channels, basins and berths.