Veraval port authorities hopeful of revival

The rich maritime tradition of the state, which kept Veraval port buzzing since 1999, till few years ago when issues like World Bank sanctioned fishing harbour project within the port, dredging problems of vessels and lack of adequate infrastructure to support business activities here rendered port virtually jobless.

In past few days, a ray of hope has glimmered with three vessels "" Shri Shanti, Three Wind Splendour and Gurukrupa "" stacking more than 5,000 MT of wheat cargo, at the port.

Veraval port, which was once considered to be one of the busiest all-season port of the state, is apparently coming back on track.

"The problems experienced in last few years had compelled majority of the shipping companies to avoid this port as they had to arrange for the towing facilities and manage overheads, involved to bring ship at Veraval. Above all the port lacked adequate facilities required for charting the vessel," said R N Damor, port officer at Veraval port.

With state-of-the-art facilities developed at the nearby ports aiming to provide sound infrastructure and direct berthing of vessels, acute and sharp deviation was observed in the traffic at the Veraval port, he said.

In last few years, majority of the shipping companies preferred ports of Pipavav and Porbandar instead Veraval port, for, these ports provided aforementioned facilities, well in time. Veraval port can facilitate berthing of ship in the range of 2,800 to 3,000 MT. We are constantly increasing the water draft level upto atleast three to four meters and assuring dredging problem to be solved, said Damor.

Further, the fishing harbour project at the Veraval port, has damaged the port activities by occupying majority of the space. "There are atleast 3,000 fishing boats and majority of them are parked in the port area, occupying all 13 berthing points," said B A Jethwa, port supervisor.

"We are hardly able to use three to four berthing points out of seven allocated to us, however, we are planning to use atleast six berthing points out of the total 13," he added.

"Till 1999, there were atleast 20 ships anchoring the port every year but in past seven years, not a single ship had anchored here," said Yogesh Parmar of ATP Shipping. In 1999, atleast seven to eight shipping companies were active here, now hardly three exist. We have managed to contribute in reviving the port activities by bringing the three vessels, he added.

"Country Crafts, which mainly carry cargo of 300 to 400 MT kept Veraval Port alive till now, as every month there were atleast 17 to 18 country crafts sailing to southern ports carrying cargo of soda ash, wheat, animal feed and other agri-commodities," said Jethwa.

"Unfortunately we lost on previous five months of the season, which started from September 2005. But with four months in balance, we are aiming atleast four to five vessels of bigger capacity to sail in and out of this port. We are planning to tap cement cargo," said Damor.

"Broadgauge facilities have already been extended upto Veraval station, but the railway tracks in Veraval are of metre gauge pattern, if the railway facility at Veraval port is converted to broadauge and connected upto Aadri railway station, which is 10 km from Veraval where racks of goods train are made available, it would not only catalyse the international trade, but would also facilitate domestic logistics support to the business community at the port," said Yogesh.