: The Kolkata Port Trust (KPT) for the first time operationalised transloading system at Kanika sands, 120 miles from Haldia in West Bengal. According to KPT on October 15, M.V. Sapphire, a bulk carrier, would transfer its entire cargo of 75,000 Metric Tonnes of coal to M.V. Vighnraj, a transloader.
What is a transloader?A transloader is a small ship to which the cargo of a larger ship is transferred.
In the newly introduced system, the transloader will carry the cargo to Haldia and then barges will carry it to the power plant of National Thermal Power Cooperation Limited at Farakka in Murshidabad through National Waterway I. It stretches from Haldia to Allahabad. “The supply of imported coal to NTPC’s Farakka Power Plant will reduce power shortage,” the media release said.
Prior to commencement of the transloading system, ship to ship (STS) transloading operations could only be done at Sandheads, 60 miles south of Haldia. But during rough weather in the monsoon, it was not possible to continue such operations there. “The daughter vessels (barges) will move between Haldia/Sagar and the anchorage point (Kanika Sands) to transfer the entire cargo. This operation will continue at Sandheads during the fair weather period,” said the KPT media release.
According to KPT authorities, the system will be able to make up for the current “infrastructural short-comings” of the Kolkata Port as large cargo ships will not have to visit the port. This will also lead to “substantial reduction” in freight at the port.
As barges will carry the cargo from the sea directly to the power plant at Farakka, it will reduce congestion on road and rail. The transloading and transhipment operation will be done in close cooperation with Inland Water Transport.