Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy on Tuesday inaugurated the mechanised bulk cargo handling system at the Karaikal port.
The mechanised cargo handling system built at a cost of ₹600 crore would make the port operations environment-friendly and improve efficiency. It included two stacker-Reclaimers and a belt conveyor system running to a length of 5.7 km.
The system would enable the port management to discharge 40,000 tonnes of cargo per day. The quick handling of the cargo would reduce the stay of gearless ships to two-and-a-half days at the port, a release said.
“As the cargo is inter carted in closed conveyor systems, environment protection is enhanced to a large extent, thus making the Karaikal Port a nature-friendly and technology-enabled port in South India,” said Chairman and Promoter Director of Karaikal Port GRK Reddy.
By way of mechanisation, the port would be able to handle bulk shipments. It would ensure faster turnaround of ships and increase despatch rate of cargo, he said.
“The fully automated bulk handling system would help better discharge of cargo from ships through ship unloaders and dispatch it through wagon loading and truck loading stations via the conveyor system,” he added.
Minister for Social Welfare M. Kandasamy, Minister for Agriculture R. Kamalakannan, Legislators K.A.U Asana, Geetha Anandan and senior officials took part in the inaugural.