The Hindu Business Line : Kolkata port to call bids for mobile harbour crane

THE Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) will soon float a global tender for acquiring a mobile harbour crane to facilitate container handling at two container berths (Nos. 7 & 8) at Netaji Subhas Dock under the Kolkata Dock System. The proposed acquisition will be complete with two reach stackers and will cost around Rs 16 crore.

The Expression of Interest invited in this regard has evoked good response, according to KoPT sources. More than half-a-dozen firms, all Indian and promising tie-ups with foreign firms, mostly European, have evinced interest in supplying the equipment.

European firms, particularly German and Swedish, are believed to be leaders in the field. The Indian companies that have responded to the EoI include Capstan Shipping, E C Bose & Co, T.P. Roychowdhury & Co from Kolkata, ABG of Mumbai and Indital of Bangalore.

The port authorities, the sources say, are keen on expediting the process of acquisition so that the crane is ready for operation by March 2004.

KoPT authorities have been trying hard for some time to boost the throughput of container traffic through the Kolkata Dock System. As a first step, the container berths have been connected by rail so that the traffic to and from various inland container depots (ICDs) in the country, particularly from the one at Tughlakabad, could be routed through these berths. Also, concessional tariffs have been announced.

Recently, the port officials held a meeting with the Commissioner of Customs, Tughlakabad ICD. The representatives of the Association of Shipping Interests in Calcutta (ASIC), the body of shipowners, also attended the meeting.

The White Paper prepared by ASIC and submitted to a senior official of the Customs indicated that the imports from and exports to Korea and Far East, if routed through the KDS, would be cheaper as the entire shipment could be undertaken within fewer days vis-a-vis the west coast ports. One of the reasons for some north Indian traders having shown interest in shipments through the Kolkata port as compared to west coast ports is believed to be the inordinate delay they are facing in the west coast ports, largely due to the congestion on the route.

Among the other facilities being offered at the Kolkata port are everyday sailing to and from Singapore, Colombo and Port Kelang, no berthing delay at the port, no idle time and fully computerised facilities at the terminal to ensure constant tracking and instant relay information between the port and the Tughlakabad ICD. Also, the port offers 20 days free time.

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