Continuing its growth trajectory, Visakhapatnam Port Trust will not only surpass 63 million tonne target set by the Ministry of Shipping but also wind up the financial year with a total throughput of 64 million tonnes.
This will be three million tonne more than the cargo handled during 2016-17 notwithstanding the industrial slump casting a shadow on the performance of the ports in the country.
VPT Chairman M.T. Krishna Babu attributed their success to aggressive marketing, significant improvement in techno-economic parameters and competitive tariff offered by the port. He told The Hindu on Tuesday that cargoes which used to be diverted to neighbouring ports had started coming back to the major port.
Overall, the storage time offered by other ports for a longer period has become a handicap along with TAMP calculations applicable for PPP berth operators. “Despite all this for past four to six months, many are reposing faith in the efficiency of the port by coming back to us,” he stated.
Coastal cargo
One significant achievement for the port was introduction of coastal cargo shipment by Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited to Mumbai, Kochi and Ahmedabad. The port has also received favourable response from National Mineral Development Corporation to handle coking coal, gypsum and limestone at the Adani berth. NMDC is on the verge of completing construction of three million tonne integrated steel plant at Nagarnar, near Jagdalpur in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.
VPT has promised to use the Adani berth as captive berth for NMDC subject to fulfilment of guidelines prescribed by the Ministry of Shipping. Priority lending facility has been promised to the NMDC.
Another welcome developing is that Vedanta Group is planning bauxite import through Super Cape vessels. Once the price recovery mechanism is worked out, along with bauxite, other cargoes may also be handled through Super Cape vessels.
To withstand competition, VPT is also offering 50% discount on vessel-related charges on container cargo of below 50,000 gross register tonnage and 70% on above 50,000 GRT.
