By February next year, Paradip Port Trust plans to make operational its International Cargo Terminal. Paradip International Cargo Terminal Private Limited (PICT) was awarded the contract for development of multipurpose berth to handle clean cargo, including containers at Paradip Port on Build-Operate-Transfer basis for 30 years. The depth at this berth will be developed to 17.1 metres with a length of 450 metres, which also will facilitate handling cape-sized vessels up to 1,25,000 DWT.
“Non-hazardous and dust-free cargoes, including iron and steel products, aluminium ingots, pig iron, finished fertiliser, food grains and sugar (both raw and finished) will be handled efficiently in the multi-purpose berth,” port officials sources said. Now, the number of berths at the port has been increased to 18.
In a remarkable freight and cargo management operation so far, Paradip Port successfully completed the movement of 24 vessels in a day this week. Earlier, the Port had set a record of completing the movement of 19 vessels in a day. The marine department of PPT handled nine, seven and eight vessels in the first, second and third shifts respectively. A total of 2,37,341 MMT cargo was handled on the same day.
“This has been possible due to the efficiency of marine pilots of PPT, concerned stevedores and the co-operation extended by the traffic department,” said AK Mohapatra, in-charge deputy conservator and harbour master.
