Increase in draft to handle capesize vessels has led to impressive recovery in traffic by Visakhapatnam Port in the last quarter. As on March 31, the port finished with a throughput of around 58.06 million tonnes.
“This was a remarkable improvement due to arrival of bigger vessels in the coal terminal developed by General Cargo Berth Pvt. Ltd (Vedanta) and increase in container cargo. We are expecting to do far better next year,” Port Deputy Chairman G.V.L. Satya Kumar told The Hindu.
The correct figures as well as the all India ranking would be known once the data is compiled by Indian Ports Association. Visakhapatnam Port was placed fifth as on February 28 by handling 52.77 million tonnes as against 53.94 million tonnes during the corresponding period last fiscal.
With significant improvement in cargo at the fag end of the financial year, the port might get the fourth rank. Port authorities as well as the BOT operators exuded confidence that they would do well in future with the completion of mechanisation of berths and dredging in the inner harbour enabling berthing of Panamax vessels.
Visakhapatnam Port suffered cargo due to fall in iron ore exports by China, fluctuation of rupee, fall in fertilizer movement, diversion of transhipment cargo to Paradip after commissioning of pipelines to Haldia and dislocation caused due to construction works at various berths.
