The V.O. Chidambaranar Port has unveiled an ambitious plan to boost its cargo handling capacity to 50 million tonnes per annum. Key initiatives include dredging the North Cargo Berth by October to accommodate vessels with a 14.20-meter draft and deploying state-of-the-art cranes.
Increasing Cargo Handling Capacity
Current Capacity and Growth
Chairman Susanta Kumar Purohit highlighted the port’s current cargo handling capacity of 81.05 million metric tonnes per annum, noting that it has handled 13.17 million tonnes of cargo, including 2.47 lakh TEUs of containers, during this fiscal year up to July 25. This marks an overall growth of 5.29% in cargo volume and 4.73% in container handling.
Target for Financial Year
Despite existing capacity constraints, the port aims to handle 50 million tonnes of cargo this financial year. To achieve this, the port is implementing several initiatives to augment capacity and improve cargo evacuation, thereby increasing productivity and reducing vessel turnaround time.
Infrastructure Upgrades
Enhancing Efficiency and Reducing Costs
Recognizing potential volumes in the primary and secondary hinterland, the port is upgrading its infrastructure to enhance efficiency and reduce per-unit costs, aiming to increase its market share in the region.
Dredging and Mechanization
To boost bulk cargo handling, the North Cargo Berth-III (NCB-3), with a length overall (LOA) of 306 meters, will be dredged by October to handle vessels with a 14.20-meter draft. Simultaneously, dredging will occur in the entrance channel, approach channel, and turning circle area of the port.
JSW Infrastructure Limited will mechanize NCB-3 within 18 months, installing shore unloaders capable of discharging 7 million tonnes per annum. Interim operations, post-dredging, will use two Harbour Mobile Cranes (HMC) with capacities of 100-120 tonnes to handle 2 million tonnes this financial year.
Boosting Container Trade
Tuticorin International Container Terminal
The port’s container trade will benefit from the 3rd Container Terminal, ‘Tuticorin International Container Terminal,’ operated by JM Baxi Group. This terminal, with a draft of 14.20 meters and LOA of 370 meters, can handle 6 lakh TEUs of containers. With structural works, surface treatments, and the installation of fenders and bollards completed, rapid progress is being made on berth refurbishment, crane rail installation, and cabling to commission the terminal by September.
Future Expansion Plans
Floating Crane and Barges
Additionally, the port plans to deploy a floating crane and three barges to handle an extra 2 million tonnes of bulk cargo at anchorage over the next couple of years. Two mooring dolphins with necessary infrastructure will be constructed by mid-2025 at the oil jetty to handle smaller vessels of around 120 meters LOA.
Coal Jetty Modifications
At Coal Jetty-2, modifications have been made, including removing the existing conveyor system and modifying three hoppers to facilitate lighterage of fertilizer and fertilizer raw material vessels. The jetty has a draft of 12.7 meters. A link conveyor will be installed at Coal Jetty-1 to enhance coal vessel lighterage, targeting completion by October 30, increasing the capacity by 0.72 MMTA.
Increasing Throughput
North Cargo Berth-2 Enhancements
To boost throughput at North Cargo Berth-2, an additional Harbour Mobile Crane with a capacity of 100 tonnes will be deployed, increasing the capacity to handle 25,000 tonnes a day. An additional berth area of around 5,000 square meters each in NCB-2 and NCB-3 will be backfilled with dredged materials by November.
Specialized Cranes for Windmill Blades
Two exclusive crawler cranes will be commissioned at berths 5 and 6 by the end of September for seamless handling of windmill blades.
Conclusion
“With these capacity augmentations, the port aims to increase throughput by over 50 million tonnes by the end of this financial year. We are committed to providing the necessary infrastructure for seamless cargo handling and evacuation, prioritizing innovation and sustainability to facilitate operations, reduce lead times, and enhance customer satisfaction,” said Mr. Purohit.
By implementing these strategic initiatives, V.O. Chidambaranar Port is positioning itself as a leader in cargo handling efficiency and capacity in South India.