Vizag port trying hard to lease out slipway, dry dock facility

Visakhapatnam Port is once again trying to lease out its slipway and dry dock facility. A year back the port had offered to lease out this facility to private entities but the move fell through because of a lack of interest.

The port has a good slipway and drydock facility at the fishing harbour. For the last several years, this facility has not been properly utilised by the port.

This apart, the port has invested in the maintenance of the slipway and drydock while earning nothing on this expenditure.

The dry dock and slipway can be used mainly for repairs of mechanised fishing boats, fishing trawlers and small-sized cargo vessels. In 2002, the port had invited tenders to lease out the slipway and drydock facility for operation and maintenance for a period of five years.

The Association of Indian Fishing Industry, which represents the interests of the entire deep-sea fishing industry in the country, had opposed the port proposal to lease out the facilities to private operators.

In 2002, only three firms evinced interest in taking the slipway and drydock facility on lease. The port had then agreed to lease out the facility to a Chennai-based company, which was the highest bidder, but the company failed to cough up the requisite amount.

The port's tender notice has set July 15 as the last date for submission of the tender.

"This time we expect financially sound companies to evince interest in leasing the slipway and drydock facilities," a senior official of the port told Business Standard.