NMPT handles record traffic in FY06

The New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) has recorded a marginal rise in traffic handling during 2005-06. The port has handled 34.45 million tonnes during the year as against 33.89 million tonnes handled during the previous year, a growth of 1.65 per cent, P Tamilvanan, chairman of NMPT said.

The increase in volume of traffic is due to the increased handling of crude petrol and petroleum products, fertiliser, coal, containerised cargo, etc.

During 2005-06, 1.49 lakh tonnes of containerised cargo (9,646 TEUs) was handled at the port compared to 1,36,127 tonnes (8,943 TEUs) during the previous year thus registering a growth rate of 9.42 per cent.

Last fiscal 1,080 vessels were handled at the Port as against 1,057 vessels handled during the previous year.

The port has also handled four cruise vessels during the last fiscal year against eight vessels during the previous year. The average pre-berthing delay in hours has been reduced from 2.64 in 2004.05 to 0.96 in 2005-06. The average turn-round time in days has been reduced from 1.94 to 1.87.

In order to facilitate and encourage private participation in infrastructure development it is proposed to allot land on long term basis for setting up of facilities for handling iron ore behind the deep draft multipurpose berth on BOT basis.

The BOT operator will establish the facilities for handling of iron ore from the railway yard to the berth and load the ship with mechanised loaders. The mechanised plan costing Rs 100 crore would involve tripling, stacking and restacking.

Eleven firms are pre-qualified for the work and the due date for submission of proposals has been extended upto April 28, 2006, Tamilvanan told reporters.

The New Mangalore Port has planned for development of ship repair facilities for ocean going vessels and other floating crafts on BOT basis. IPA has prepared the feasibility report. In principle approval of the Ministry has been requested to take up the development work under BOT basis.

Regarding the Mangalore SEZ, the ministry has been requested for the participation. The port is awaiting the ministry's in principle approval.

Nagarjuna Power Corporation Ltd has requested for allotment of land and waterfront for construction of captive jetty at NMP in connection with the proposed captive power plant of 1,015 MW at Nandikur. The port is in the process of providing terms and conditions, he said. There is a proposal to construct a dedicated jetty for handling LNG and construct tankage in the port premises at an area of 80 to 100 acres as ONGC/MRPL have indicated that it would establish a power plant near Mangalore and would import five million tonne LNG. The total cost of the project including the power plant is Rs 2,600 crore.

The terminal would be developed within the port limits and it is proposed to provide land and waterfront required for the above project on nomination basis with the approval of the ministry of shipping. Now, the above proposal is synchronised with Mangalore SEZ.