The plan is aimed at augmenting and modernising port capacity in the region said JNPT deputy-chairman Kishore Apte. Under this plan the port will construct a five-berth liquid cargo terminal at a cost Rs 1,600 crore. While a detailed engineering study is underway, the port hopes that either the public sector oil companies or large petrochemical companies, which have a large throughput at the port, will show interest. The port would be willing to offer a part of the facilities to port management companies, or a consortium of shipping companies as well. The environmental clearance for the project is still pending. Recently, the port formed a joint venture company with BPCL and IOC for setting up a liquid cargo terminal at an estimated cost of Rs 250 crore. A unique feature of this project is that it can be converted into a container terminalin a few years' time, when the five-berth liquid cargo terminal is ready. This terminal has a quay side of 300 metres, but can accommodate ships on both sides, giving it two extra berths.

In the interim, however, the new two-berth liquid cargo terminal is expected to increase the port's handling capacity by 1.5 million tonnes next year. In the next couple of years this is expected to go up to 5.5 million tonnes. Among projects that will be executed by the port is the expansion of port craft jetty from the current 80 metres to 200 metres at a cost of Rs 15 crore. This will be used for smaller vessels and tugs belonging to the port. The port will also construct a shallow draft berth with a quay side of 200 metres estimated to cost Rs 20-24 crore. Since the draft here is only 9.5 metres, it will be reserved exclusively for feeder vessels.

Also, on the anvil is a modernisation programme aimed at augmenting equipment. For instance, two gantry cranes, at a cost of Rs 50 crore will be added to three-berthcontainer terminal, taking the total to eight. The port has also entered into a licensing arrangement with Indian Oil Tanking for a Rs 7 crore project which will add four loading arms (equipment used to unload liquid cargo in an environmental safe fashion by using enclosed shutes) and upgrade all the fire-fighting equipment. The company has also been handed over the wharf operations in an attempt to increase efficiency. The plan, called the JNPT development plan, has focused on liquid cargo handling as trade projections have indicated that demand for liquid chemicals and LPG will register a sharp hike. Also, by creating dedicated facilites for liquid cargo it will be in a position to clear more space for container operations. In fact, if the current trend of under-utilisation of the bulk cargo capacity continues, the port plans to add container handling facilities here with a few modifications.