The New Mangalore port notched up 12.41 per cent growth in cargo handling in the first eight months of 2012-13.
P. Tamilvanan, Chairman, New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), told Business Line here on Monday that the port handled 23.55 million tonnes of cargo from April-November this fiscal, against 20.95 million tonnes in the corresponding period the previous year.
He attributed this growth to the increased handling of coal cargo during the current fiscal and the facilities provided at the port.
Better Connectivity
He said that coal handling by various agencies at NMPT has gone up significantly. The Udupi Thermal Power Corporation (UPCL) handled around 16.31 lakh tonnes (9.30 lakh tonnes), and other private players in the hinterland around 2.77 million tonnes (1.11 million tonnes) of coal during the period, he said.
Stating that the handling of iron ore fines by KIOCL Ltd has gone up, he said the company brought around 9.44 lakh tonnes (7.10 lakh tonnes) of iron ore fines from other destinations through NMPT during April-November.
However, the company’s export of iron ore pellets through NMPT fell to 7.01 lakh tonnes (11.32 lakh tonnes).
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), a major user of the port, also moved more cargo during the period. MRPL handled 9.03 million tonnes (8.55 million tonnes) of crude oil, and exported 4.84 million tonnes (4.35 million tonnes) of POL (petroleum, oil, lubricant) products.
Infrastructure
Tamilvanan said the port has infrastructure such as deep-draught berth of 14 metres, and harbour mobile cranes to handle gearless vessels.
(Gearless vessels are ships without cranes or conveyors. These ships depend on shore-based equipment at their ports of call for loading and discharging.)
Improved rail connectivity to the hinterland has been a big factor in cargo growth at NMPT, he added.
vinayak.aj@thehindu.co.in