Visakhapatnam, May 14 (EPC News): Leighton Welspun will soon complete the construction of its Vizag Port Project. The company has already completed construction of the berth, almost 3 months ahead of schedule and will also wind up the remaining activities ahead of the plan, informed an official from the industry.

The work allotted under the project comprised of civil, mechanical and electrical works for installation of a suitably designed system for unloading of coal at the rate of 70,000 TPD via 3 ship un-loaders. It also involved the installation of 200 cast in situ piles, casting and installation of 850 precast concrete elements and pouring of approximately 19,000 m3 of concrete. The 356 m long berth is constructed to support 3 ship unloading cranes, enabling the mechanization of coal handling facility. The work was executed on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer basis. 

The coal terminal is expected to cater the increasing demands from power and steel industries. 

EPC News Bureau

Mumbai, May, 07 (EPC News): Marg Karaikal, a major among the private ports in India, plans to develop a dedicated container terminal with state-of-the-art facilities.

“The terminal will be equipped with ship-to-shore quay cranes, rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTG) and other latest technologies to support the expected increase in container volumes,” informs MLN Acharyulu, Executive Director (Marine Infrastructure), Karikal Port Pvt Ltd. in an exclusive interview with Projects World.

The company however did not disclose any additional details on the terminal development plan. “The plan is still at a very nascent stage, even the bidding process has not been initiated,” said an official from KPPL. 

Karaikal which currently completed its third anniversary also plans to shed huge investments for increasing the capacity and capability of the port to handle diverse range of commodities. Commenting on the company’s future plans, Acharyulu says, “Our focus now will be on moving forward towards becoming the preferred alternative on the South East Coast of the country for maritime trade.”

The port which is currently concluding its Phase IIA developments also plans to make capacity additions from its planned 21MTPA to 28MTPA in the near future. The port developed by Chennai based Marg, has already received its third private equity infusion to partially fund its expansion plans. Private equity major, Jacob Ballas India shedding an investment of `200 crore (through primary and secondary investments) recently acquired a minority share in the port. The port also raised `150 crore from IDFC Project Equity and `200 crore from Ascent Capital. The funds raised will be used to accomplish the expansion plan aimed on increasing the port capacity. 

Opining on the government initiatives proposed for the betterment of the ports in India, Acharyulu expressed, “Without a supportive policy framework, the much-needed development initiatives cannot progress much further. However, there is still scope for further improvements in the existing policy framework regarding development of ports and other marine infrastructure projects.” He also highlighted the issues of project approvals and clearances as a major hurdle faced today by the Indian port segment. 

Reviewing the regulatory changes promoting PPP participation in the Indian port segment he further adds, “The policy of promoting PPP-based privatization has certainly attracted a lot of interest from private players over the recent past but due to various reasons, the actual execution on the ground has not lived upto the expectations.” He also upheld the need for an immediate refinement in tariff regulations and revenue share models, which can contribute immensely for the development of the country’s ports and port infrastructures. 

The port also marked a 26% growth in its cargo volumes reaching 6.01 million tonne in 2011-12 as compared to 4.75 million tonne handled during 2010-11. The port further expanded its cargo mix by adding number of new commodities including containers and liquid cargo. Karaikal Port being developed in over three phases is envisaged to have a total of nine berths, capable of handling up to 47 MMTPA by 2017. 

By Veena Kurup

Mumbai, May, 07 (EPC News): The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) plans to start operations at its fifth mega container terminal at Nhava Sheva by 2019-20. The terminal alone with create additional facilities of 10 million TEUs.

Says L Radhakrishnan, Chairman, JNPT, “Throughput at India’s ports accounts for 8 million TEUs but the fifth mega terminal at JNPT will add 10 million TEUs.” 

He further adds, “Our plan is to have the fifth terminal operational latest by 2019-20.”

The container terminal, likely to an L-shaped involving a length of about four kilometers, is to be executed on PPP basis. The company is in process of acquiring around 1250 acres of land for the project.

“We are in talks with CIDCO for acquiring 1250 acres of land for the project. The acquisition is likely to cost an estimate of Rs5000-6000 crore,” says Radhakrishnan. 

The fifth container terminal is being designed by Scott Wilson. 

Further steps are underway to develop additional capacity to match the demand from trade by developing fourth container terminal of 4.8 million TEUs capacity. “We are about to sign an agreement within a month for this project to more than double our capacity. This whole process will be completed in 4-5 years,” adds Radhakrishnan.

Besides, the company is also dredging channels from 10.5 meters to 17 meters depth to accommodate new generation vessels. “By 2020, with the completion of dredging, the port can handle vessels up to 18,000 TEUs making us the only port capable of handling such large vessels,” reveals Radhakrishnan.

And with the Dedicated Freight Corridor from JNPT to Dadri, it plans to have a joint venture with Dedicate Freight Corridor Corporation (DFCC) to develop Logistics Park.  “We are going in for a JV with DFCC to set up state of the art logistic park spread across 200 acres. Land for the project will be supplied.”

JNPT handled 65.75 million tonnes of total cargo during the financial year 2011-12, which is an all- time record for JNPT. The containerized cargo was 58.25 million tonnes and liquid cargo was 6.66 million tonnes and remaining 0.84 million tonnes of dry bulk and break bulk. The port handled 4.32 million TEUs of container traffic during the financial year 2011-12 surpassing the previous highest of 4.27 million TEUs during the 2010-11.

By Lovina Kinny

Chennai, May 05 (EPC News): The Chennai Port Trust, Ministry of Shipping, Government of India undertaking, is all set to award the mega container terminal project, highest valued private public partnership project, by July end. Major private port operators, Adani Ports and Essar Ports are eyeing the terminal project which will be developed north of the existing Bharathi Dock.

According to the Shipping Secretary, PK Sinha, the Rs3,686 crore project to be executed on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis will create an annual additional capacity of four million 20 foot containers at the port. 

While the Rs561 crore dredging, floating crafts and navigational aids cost will be borne by the port trust; the private operator will invest Rs3,125 crore on berth and breakwater construction, reclamation of back-up area, handling equipment and other infrastructure.

EPC News Bureau

New Delhi, May 03 (EPC News): The government seems uninterested in establishing new shipyards proposed in the Maritime Agenda 2010-12 last year. According to Shipping Ministry official, the existing shipyards have failed to attract business as projected. 

“At present there is no demand, the existing shipyards are not getting business as expected,” a Shipping Ministry official said.

The Government had proposed setting up a major port each on the east and west coast of India, along with respective shipyards. The plan for the major ports remains while that for the shipyards may be reconsidered.

India has over 40 shipyards owned and operated by both private as well as public sectors.

EPC News Bureau

Chennai, May 02 (EPC News): Private equity player, NYLIM Jacob Ballas India has invested Rs200 crore, by way of primary and secondary investments, in MARG Karaikal Port for a minority stake. 

Commenting on the investment, GRK Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director, MARG Ltd said, “The investment from NYLIM-JB Fund into MARG Karaikal Port comes in at an opportune time.”

The funds will be used for the MARG Karaikal Port expansion plans which will enhance the port’s capacity from the already planned expansion of 21 mmtpa to 28 mmtpa. 

India Infrastructure Fund and Ascent Capital Advisors have already invested in Karaikal Port in the past. “With the present investment by NYLIM-JB Fund, MARG Karaikal Port has three institutional investors adding value by their infrastructure exposure & expertise to augment and fuel the ambitious growth plans of Karaikal Port,” adds Reddy. 

EPC News Bureau

Ratnagiri, Apr, 27 (EPC News): State-owned gas utility GAIL India Ltd has resumed cargo operations at the nation’s third liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Dabhol after it repaired fenders at the port that were damaged by rough sea.

The operation was earlier stalled as the commissioning cargo, which is used to prepare site for commercial operations had damaged. The company, last month had purchased an LNG carrier, called Excelerate from Statoil ASA Snohvit LNG plant in the Barents Sea off Norway.

“The vessel is back at the jetty and LNG has begun to be discharged from today,” an official said, adding that the commissioning of the terminal will take few weeks as the systems are being tested one by one.
Since it had been shut for so long, GAIL is taking all precautions in commissioning the terminal. The pipelines, storage tanks and other systems are tested one-by-one by lowering temperature to minus 160 degree celsius.

EPC News Bureau

Jaigad, Apr 24 (EPC News): Mining, processing and transportation major, Chowgule Group has inaugurated its all weather port – Angre Port, at Jaigad today.

Set up with an estimated investment of Rs520 crore, the port intends to serve the trucking hinterland within 350 km radius spread over Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka.

Commenting on the occasion, Vijay Chowgule, Group Chairman, Chowgule Group, says, “We would be purely focusing on clean cargo movement from our port. For instance marine and horticulture products, textiles, food grains, engineering products and chemicals.”

The port has proximity to fast growing industrial area of Maharashtra and Karnataka.  

Says M P Patwardhan, Managing Director, Chowgule Ports and Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, “At present it is estimated that the initial capacity of the port will be around 16 mtpa which can be further increased to 25 mtpa.”

The port has four berths - one berth dedicated for liquid cargo and the balance three being for multipurpose cargo which is containerized, dry bulk.

Also under construction is a ship repair facility at the port. The company has infused around Rs1000 crore for the project which includes port and a ship repair facility.

“I would not like to divulge the cost of ship repair facility but all together the investment is around Rs1000 crore,” says Atul Kulkarni, CEO, Chowgule Ports and Infrastructure Pvt Ltd.

Adds Patwardhan, “The company plans to repair high end ships upto 10,000 tonnes.”

The company is also in talks with oil PSU for offering bunkering service (the process of filling oil in ships) at the Fujairah price. “The Angre port will also offer bunkering services. We are in talks with an oil public sector undertaking for offering the Fujairah price. India has not been popular as a bunkering destination," said Atul Kulkarni.

The Maharashtra government has adopted the Build-Operate-Share-Transfer (BOST) policy only for investments in ports and Angre is the first project under the BOST scheme. “We have signed the concession for a 50-year period with the state government after which, the project value will be assessed and shared between the company and the government,” reveals Patwardhan.

It is to believe that the commencement of Angre port operations will provide alternate gateway to the presently decongested JNPT port and Mundra port.

By Rahul Kamat