Paradip: Paradip Port broke its own record for the swiftest climb to 100 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) cargo handling among Indian major ports in the shortest time in its history.
It crossed the 100 MMT mark for the 7th year in succession and achieved a cargo throughput of 100.28 MMT on December 18 in the current fiscal.
Marking the occasion, a symbolic cake cutting was done today at the Board Room by P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, Paradip Port Authority in the presence of other Head of Departments and Deputy HoDs.
Notably, in the financial year 2022-23, the coveted mark of 100 MMT was achieved on January 9, 2023. Thus by, the record was achieved 22 days in advance i.e. 262 days in the current fiscal against 284 days in the last financial year, by exhibiting 9.64 % growth in total cargo throughput.
Authorities said the port is poised to set a record cargo handling of more than 145 MMT in the current fiscal. Various system improvement measures, introduced by the port during this year, fuelled growth. Outbound Iron Ore and Pellet has shown a remarkable 69.03% growth in comparison to the previous fiscal. Last fiscal, it amounted to 10.56 MMT over the same period, whereas till December 18, it stands at 17.85 MMT in the current fiscal. Coastal Thermal Coal handling constitutes about 30.38% of the total cargo volume handled at the Port.
The Port has also registered improvement in the Key Performance Parameters. Berth’s productivity stands at 32,689 MT per day per ship, which is the highest among all major ports of the country. The vessel turn-round time is recorded as 42.01 hours as against 47.60 hours during the corresponding period of the previous year. Similarly, Pre-Berthing Detention is 1.18 hours as against 1.73 hours during the corresponding period of the previous year.
“Thus Paradip port is emerging as a coastal shipping hub of the country and started coastal shipping of thermal coal to the west coast, for the first time in history, i.e. Maharastra-based Power Plants. It further plans to expand coastal shipping of thermal coal to other regions on the West Coast,” the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, stated today. It added that the port’s commitment to operational excellence, coupled with strategic improvements in cargo handling, has positioned it as a key player in catering to the growing needs of the industry.
– global bihari bureau
