KPT handles highest monthly throughput

The Kandla Port has claimed another record by handling 5.07 million metric tonne of cargo last month, which is the highest monthly throughput achieved among all major ports of India.

During the period from April to August, 2007, the Kandla port handled an aggregate throughput of 25.877 million metric tonnes (MMT) and it has managed to consistently maintain its number-one position among the country's major ports.

A release from the Kandla Port Trust (KPT) says if the Essar refinery at Vadinar had not been shut down for routine maintenance during the month, the port's performance would have been much better.

The port also set a record by handling 4.77 lakh tonnes of fertiliser during the month against 2.24 lakh metric tonne of fertiliser handled by KPT during the corresponding period last year. 13.05 lakh tonnes of fertiliser has been handled against 6.51 lakh tonnes handled during the corresponding period last year up to September 15, 2007, achieving an increase of over 100 per cent.

This year the average rate of discharge was 6,749 MT per day against 5,842 MT during the corresponding period last year, which is an increase of 16 per cent.

KPT's Port Community System (PCS) has been activated from September 5. PCS ensures free port operation through it's centralised IT-enabled network. The port authorities claimed that PCS had benefited the port users for submission of vessel profile till the allotment of berth.

A Janardhana Rao, chairman, KPT, expressed confidence that the same trend of leadership in cargo handling and expansion would continue in the months to come, despite stiff competition from neighbouring ports.