Paradip Port Trust achieves record traffic tonnage

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar: Paradip Port Trust achieved all time traffic throughput of 68.00 million tonnes during the year 2013-14, as against the previous year’s traffic of 56.55 million tonnes exhibiting a growth of 20.25% year-on-year, according to Port Trust Chairman S.S.Mishra.Mr.Mishra said at a press conference here on Wednesday that the traffic handled by the port during the financial year is 2nd highest in terms of cargo handled and also 2nd highest in terms of percentage growth of cargo amongst all major ports.During the year, the port has excelled to 2nd position from 5th position in terms of traffic handled.After mechanisation of Central Quay III berth by M/s.Essar, a capacity of 4.00 MMTPA has been added.Similarly, 2.50 MMTPA of capacity was added after completion of dredging project.The capacity of the port thus reached 108.50 MMTPA, which is highest amongst all major ports as on 31.03.2014.The port has taken impressive strides in the realm of performance parameters.The average turn-round time (port account), average berth-day output and average pre-berthing waiting time have improved by 11%, 9% and 6% respectively over the corresponding figures of the previous year and 11%, 9% and 1% respectively over the target fixed by the Ministry of Shipping.The port has achieved total revenue of Rs.1068 Crs [Y-o-Y growth of 34%], operating revenue of Rs.915 Crs (Y-o-Y growth of 38%), operating surplus of Rs.365 Crs.(Y-o-Y growth of 50%), surplus after tax of Rs.233 Crs.(Y-o-Y growth of 24%) and operating ratio of 59.99%, utilisation of planned expenditure to the tune of 95.43%, Operating expenditure per tonne of cargo handled to the tune of Rs.74.15 and surpassed financial targets set by the Ministry of Shipping for 2013-14.The port has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with M/s.GAIL (India) Ltd.on 26.10.2013, for setting up of a LNG Terminal of a send-out capacity of 4 MMPTA (4.8 MMTPA in peak conditions) in Phase-I and addition of 4.0 MMTPA capacity in Phase-II.Studies on implementation of the project are under progress.The port has taken up a host of projects to increase the capacity from existing 108.50 million metric tonnes per annum to 270.50 million tonnes per annum by the year ending 2023.ONGOING PROJECTSi)             Construction of Southern Oil Jetty at Paradip Port.[Capacity: 10MMTPA, Rs.191.09 Crs.)ii)           Development of Deep Draught Coal Berth on BOT basis.(Estimated Cost: Rs.479.01 Cr.Capacity:10MTPA)PROJECTS UNDER BIDDINGi)             Development of Multipurpose-clean cargo berth.(Estimated Cost: Rs.387.31 Cr., Capacity:5MTPA)ii)           Development of Deep Draught Iron Ore Berth on BOT basis.(Estimated Cost: Rs.591.35 Cr., Capacity:10MTPA)iii)          Mechanization of EQ-1 to EQ-3 berths.(Estimated Cost: Rs.1651.09 Cr., Capacity:30MTPA)