Gujarat non-major ports' handling capacity up 13.73% in 2011-12

VIRENDRA PANDIT, THE HINDU BUSINESS LINE
AHMEDABAD, APRIL 10:
The ports of the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) will have a combined traffic handling capacity of 500 million tonnes a year (mtpa) by 2015-16, which would double to 1,000 mtpa by 2020.

In 2011-12, Gujarat non-major ports handled a total of 259 mt of cargo , up by 12.19 per cent from 231 mt in 2010-11, Mr Pankaj Kumar, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, GMB, said here.

Traffic handling capacity recorded 13.73 per cent growth rate from 284 mtpa to 323 mtpa in 2011-12.

DEVELOPMENTAL WORKS

Developmental works such as a coal terminal for the ultra mega power project (UMPP) at Mundra, the second single-point mooring (SPM) and crude oil terminal at Mundra, the second phase of solid cargo terminal at Dahej and the single buoy mooring (SBM) for export of crude at Bhogat, created new capacities, he said.

TRAFFIC

Traffic has increased in most of the ports like Bhavnagar (179 per cent), Okha (41.28 per cent), Bedi (28.42 per cent), Navlakhi (27.15 per cent), Mundra (24.87 per cent) and also at Magdalla/Hazira, Pipavav, Dahej, Porbandar and Sikka. The ship-recycling yard at Alang also recorded the highest number of 415 ships arriving with 38.60 mt light tonnes displacement (LDT), against 28.20 mt LDT in 2010-11.

The GMB, at present, operates 14 ports, while five others are proposed to be developed.

PRIVATE PORTS

Gujarat also has four privately operated ports and 10 others are proposed to be developed.

Besides, theState has 16 non-major ports, mainly for fishing activity.

The GMB has also taken up initiatives such as marine shipbuilding parks, ro-ro ferry service between Ghogha (Bhavnagar) and Dahej (Bharuch) across the Gulf of Cambay, Mr Kumar added.