JNPT records 9.32 per cent rise in freight traffic in 2005

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), which handles over 56 per cent of the container traffic in India, has surpassed the 2.50 million twenty equivalent foot unit (TEU) traffic mark.

The port has handled 2.58 million TEU in the calendar year 2005 compared with 2.36 million TEU in 2004, thereby registering 9.32 per cent growth.

While JNPT's container terminal (JNPCT) handled 12,60,677 TEU, its privately run Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT), managed by the UK-based P&O Ports, handled 13,07,474 TEUs in 2005.

In addition to the JNPCT and NSICT, owned by JNPT, the third container terminal - Gateway Terminals of India Pvt Ltd - managed by a consortium led by Danish shipping giant Maersk Sealand and rail PSU Container Corporation of India (Concor) will start its operation by August this year. JNPT has posted a growth of 11.72 per cent in handling total traffic at 36.21 million tonne in 2005 against the target of 34.99 million tonne.

According to sources, a host of shipping lines are planning to start new direct services from JNPT to China.

"More shipping lines have expressed their interest to start new direct services to China and Far East in the wake of increased containerised trade momentum to these destinations from India," they said.

When contacted JNPT Chief Manager (Operations) R T Revankar said the port was continuously increasing the services adding "effective utilisation of infrastructure has enabled the port to cross the 2.5 million TEU mark."

"At present, the dedicated berths for the ships are almost full at the port. However, we are enhancing our infrastructure in the light of significant growth in containerised traffic," he said.

JNPT has already added one reach stacker and the second one would join next week. The port will add two Rail Mounted Gantry Cranes (RMGCs) by June while it is in the process of acquiring three Rail Mounted Quay Crane (RMQCs).

"The port will add 22 new tractors and trailors next month for smooth handling of rising traffic," he said.

A senior port official pointed out that the backlog of import containers to be delivered from JNPT to Container Freight Stations (CFSs) as on December 31, 2005 was only 34 containers.

He said that the port was taking all necessary steps to avoid container backlog and was monitoring the traffic towards Inland Container Depot (ICD).

Earlier, JNPT had bagged best port authority award at the inaugural "Lloyd's List-Middle East And Indian Subcontinent Awards 2005" announced in Dubai.