The cargo-handling at the Visakhapatnam port has dipped by 1 million tonnes during the current financial year against the corresponding period last year, according to G.V.L Satya Kumar, Chairman of the port.
He was reviewing the performance of the port here on Thursday after hoisting the National Flag on the occasion of the Independence Day.
He said the port had handled 20 million tonnes of cargo during the current financial year till date as against 21 million tonnes last year during the corresponding period. He attributed the dip to fall in intake of iron ore by China, Government restrictions on iron ore mining and slump in transshipment of petroleum products and crude during the year.
He said the port had handled 4.12 million tonnes of iron ore and pellets during the current year, of the total quantity of 7.15 million tonnes of iron ore handled by all the major ports in the country.
Major port projects: He said the port had commissioned the new general cargo berth to handle 2,00,000 DWT vessels from April 8, creating an additional capacity of 7.18 million tonnes besides addressing the pollution problems and environmental concerns of the citizens. The mechanised coal handling facility at the EQ - 1 berth in the inner harbour was progressing well and it would be commissioned ahead of schedule in the current financial year, he added.
Two more projects - WQ-6 berth for handling multi cargoes and EQ-10 for liquid cargoes - would be operational by October, Satya Kumar said. Construction of EQ-1 A for handling thermal coal in the inner harbour was also progressing well and concession was awarded for installation of mechanised handling facilities at EQ-7 for handling fertilisers. Letter of award was issued for upgrading iron ore handling facilities at the outer harbour.
Another major project - extension of existing container terminal - was at the bidding stage and it would be awarded shortly, he said. The port was also taking up development of West Quay north berth in the inner harbour with its own resources and the Government approval was awaited.
He said the container terminal at the port had handled 1.70 million tonnes till date against 1.60 million tonnes last year. The terminal had made commendable progress, he added.
After the completion of the ongoing projects, there would be capacity addition of nearly 50 million tonnes by 2016 at the port.