The Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) has announced that it has crossed the 50 million tonnes cargo throughput during 2010-11. The figure has touched 50.02 million tonnes against48.85 million tonnes handled last year.
The port has secured the 7th position among the 12 major ports of India surpassing the 50 million tonnes target set by the Ministry of Shipping, said Mr. P. Mara Pandiyan, Chairman of MPT, on Thursday.
Of the total throughput, exports accounted for 40.84 million tonnes, while imports 9.18 million tonnes, registering an increase of 16 per cent, an all-time record, said Mr Pandiyan.
Break-up
Giving a break-up, the Chairman said that iron ore constituted 40.35 million tonnes, coal/coke 6.93 million tonnes, besides 1.5 million tonnes of POL and other liquid cargo.
Mr Pandiyan added that 10.63 million tonnes were loaded by the Mechanical Ore Handling Plant (MOHP) at berth No. 9 as against 12.01 million tonnes loaded in 2009-10.
The fall was mainly due to the extended monsoon and ban on iron exports from Karnataka.
Container traffic
The port witnessed a slight drop in the container traffic which was 17,602 TEUs during the year under review as compared to 17,296 TEUs handled in 2009-10.
In all, the port handled 948 cargo vessels (985). Cruise traffic has also risen with 21 vessels calling at the port with 9371 passengers as against 19 vessels during the previous year.
Expansion plans
Speaking about future plans, the Chairman said all the Mooring Dolphins will be capable of handling Panamax size vessels with a draft of 14.00 metres from next month and the construction of a berth alongside the breakwater, meant mainly for berthing of non-cargo vessels, including cruise vessels with a draft of 8 metres schedule to be completed by August.
The development of 4 MTPA mechanised coal import terminal at existing berth No. 11 on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis will be fully mechanised for handling of import coal.
The concession agreement is likely to be signed in November.
The development of coal handling terminal at berth No. 7 on DBFOT basis is under progress and the scheduled date of commencement of operation is May 2013, Mr Pandiyan said.