The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) may seek the Centre's approval to allow deployment of old mobile harbour cranes to overcome the Haldia Dock crisis due to exit of Haldia Bulk Terminal, among several options available.
"KoPT acting chairman Manish Jain in his status report to the secretary of union shipping ministry on October 10 suggested several options including allowing interim short term tender for six months for getting mobile cranes at short notice," sources told PTI.
KoPT also suggested that geared vessels be allowed in berth no 2 and 8 which was operated by mobile harbour cranes of HBT and loading and unloading could be done by agents and contractors.
A section of KoPT officials believed that in the episode with HBT, some cargo handling companies would be benefitted.
HBT promoted by ABG and LDA of France was trying to escape the demurrage and penalty putting the blame on KoPT but the port would not allow this, Jain said.
"We will enforce risk purchase clause if they do not resume and HBT will have to bear all the liability arising out of it for the entire contract period of 10 years from the award in 2009," he had said.
HBT on October 31 announced its exit from West Bengal's Haldia port citing unsafe work conditions.