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In Brief
Two new berths at Vizag Port
Vizag Seaports, the joint venture between Gammon India Ltd and Portia Management Services, a subsidiary of UK's Mersey Docks & Harbour Company, intends to complete the construction of two berths at Vizag Port by the end of next year. The berths will be constructed on BOT basis and will have a capacity of 3 million tonnes each to handle dry bulk cargo.
Approval sought for Ennore berths
The approval of the Union Ministry of Shipping is awaited for construction of two berths at Ennore Port. The Port's board recently approved the proposal to set up berths for VLCC and iron ore. The berth to handle VLCC will be used by CPCL and the iron ore berth will be for export iron ore from Bellary-Hospet region. EPL will take up dredging work to increase draft to 26.5 m from the present 16 m while berth construction will be on BOT basis.
Single Buoy Mooring by KRL
Kochi Refineries Ltd, a subsidiary of BPCL, is planning to install a single buoy mooring (SBM) in the sea outside Kochi Port limit. According to the DFR already prepared by EIL, Manakkodam area near the port would prove ideal for the SBM. The original location for the buoy was Kandakadayu, however, following reservations expressed by the Navy the new location was settled upon. KRL and BPCL boards will meet to finalise the project, which will handle crude oil cargo and help the former reduce its costs substantially. Currently, KRL incurs the maximum freight charge of Rs 500 per tonne for importing crude from the Gulf.
Development of NWs in Kerala
The Central government has released Rs 9.64 crore up to March 2002 for nine Centrally sponsored schemes with a project outlay of Rs 24 crore for development of NW 3. This includes the hydrographic survey on river Gandak and Kosi in Bihar and river Ghaghra in UP; capital dredging of Mandavi-Zuari and Mupusa rivers; construction of five terminals across Hooghly; jetties at Haldia, Kachuberia, Lot 8 and Raichak; and, modernisation of 434 jetties for ferry services in Kerala. The government is keen to develop this mode of transport as on the waterways 1 litre of fuel can move an average 105 tonnes of cargo, while the railways takes 85 tonnes and roadways 24 tonnes.
(1/6/02)
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