The Cochin Port Trust has received an automated bagging unit for the packing of fertilisers handled at the port.
A demonstration of the unit was held here, dispelling fears about the delay in the evacuation of fertiliser coming in bulk to the port.
Quick evacuation
With the installation of the mechanised bagging unit shortly, it would be possible for quick evacuation of cargo, thereby, facilitating more imports, the officials said.
The bagging unit comprises of grabs, hopper, bagging plant, weighing machines, stitching machines and a conveyor belt.
Each bagging plant comprises of two bagging lines. The bagging unit can handle 140 tonnes of fertiliser (2,800 bags of 50 kg) an hour.
The automated bagging unit was imported by the Kochi based Lots Shipping. A senior official in the company said that this mobile automated bagging unit can also be taken to the ship side for discharging cargo directly from the ship.
Bulk cargoes
Lots Shipping has been entrusted with expediting bulk cargoes such as wheat, rice, maize using this machine at various African ports, he said adding, that the company had imported this machine to Kochi following the request from the port management.
rock phosphate
It is pointed out that port had handled a total of 1,44,887 tonnes of rock phosphate between April 1, 2011 and March 19 this year. This is against the total of 1,45,856 tonnes handled during the whole of 2010-11.
Sulphur
It had also handled 1,70,514 tonnes of sulphur during the current financial year against the 1,89,916 tonnes of the commodity during 2010-11.
With the shifting of container terminal operations to Vallarpadam, the port officials have taken various steps to attract more bulk cargo consignment to the port. The procurement of the mechanised bagging unit is the result of such efforts.
Labour shortage
According to port officials, shortage of labour for fast clearance of fertiliser during peak hours is a major constraint. The recent delay in clearing fertilisers imported by public sector companies on account of labour shortage had also prompted the management to think in favour of an automatic bagging unit to handle imported fertilisers.