Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), which handles more than half of India's container traffic, surpassed the three million TEU (twenty foot equivalent units) mark in 2006. |
Coupled with capacity increase and growth in trade, the port handled 3.08 million TEUs in 2006 against 2.58 million in 2005. |
The port has clocked a 19.72 per cent growth, while the average growth of major ports in the country is around 10 per cent. |
JNPT Chairperson Maya Sinha said better performance of the existing terminals and augmentation of capacity helped the port reach the milestone. |
"The third container terminal has added to the JNPT's capacity. The port has also registered better vessel turnaround time and dwell time," she said. |
The port had yesterday commissioned the third container terminal, operated by Danish shipping giant Maersk and Container Corporation of India (Concor). This augmented the port's capacity by 50 per cent. |
"The port is likely to handle 3.50 million TEUs in the current financial year with new container terminal," industry analysts said. |
Out of 3.08 million TEUs in 2006, JNPT-controlled terminal, JNPCT, handled 1.35 million TEUs against 1.26 million in 2005""a growth of 6.86 per cent. |
The second container terminal operated by Dubai Ports World, the Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT), handled 1.34 million TEUs in 2006 against 1.31 million TEUs in the previous year, registering a 2.55 per cent growth. |
Recently launched third container terminal, operated by Maersk-Concor combine, contributed 0.39 million TEU. |
Including containerised cargo, the port handled 42.38 million tonnes of cargo during 2006 against 36.42 million tonne last year, clocking a growth of 16.37 per cent. |
JNPT is also planning to further augment its capacity by inducting new equipment and dredging its shipping channel. |
JNPT Chief Manager (Operations) RT Revankar said, "We are in the process of inducting two Rail Mounted Gantry Cranes (RMGCs) and three Rail Mounted Quay Cranes (RMQCs) for container handling operations. We have already appointed a consultant for starting dredging works. By mid-2007, the port should be able to start the work of deepening the shipping channel." |